Scientific and Technological Sector Management System in the UAE: The Role of Key Stakeholders and Informal Ties

   The article is devoted to management system of the scientific and technological sphere (STS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The analysis focuses on the formal component of the STS. Based on regulatory documents, federal and regional development strategies, as well as general information about the state’s political system, key ministries and departments responsible for managing science and technology are identified. Special attention is paid to the form of state. The UAE is an asymmetric federation where some regions have more powers than others. This can be seen in the norms of the Constitution of the state, according to which there is a differentiation of emirates according to the way they participate in the formation of public authorities. Such specifics determine the regulatory and legal system of the country and the implementation of various strategies, including in the field of scientific and technological development of the state. It is noted that the STS management system is characterized by low transparency, and informal practices and governance institutions are of high importance in the state itself. The characteristic features of the political regime are personalism and patron-client relations that influence personnel appointments. Thus, key positions in the management system of the scientific and technological sector are occupied by figures associated with the ruling families of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, namely Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum. In this regard, special attention is paid to the role of key stakeholders and informal relations. As a result of the research, key figures in the STS system were identified, their biographies and the degree of relations with the ruling houses were given. In addition, the STS management system is not considered in a vacuum, but in the context of the general political system of the state. The author takes this into account and analyzes the dynamics of the development of the science and technology management system in the context of competition between the emirates, as well as the current key domestic political trend – the movement from federalism to centralization.

   Thus, the purpose of the study is to fill in the gaps in understanding the UAE’s scientific and technological management system and to trace its transformation in the context of recent domestic political changes.

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