Dr. Hatem Fouad Ali, the regional representative for the Gulf region at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a global leader in combating drug-related issues and promoting prevention strategies.
In remarks to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the launch of the Drug Prevention Forum 2025 in Abu Dhabi, he stated that the UNODC is collaborating strategically with the UAE to enhance efforts against drug abuse and prevention.
He expressed his enthusiasm to participate in the forum, which is themed “Informed Families, Safe Communities,” coinciding with the celebration of World Drug Day this month. He described the event as a significant opportunity to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and the national efforts being made in terms of prevention, international cooperation, treatment, and rehabilitation.
He emphasized the UAE’s commitment to closely work with the UNODC in addressing the issues posed by drug abuse, implementing several pioneering initiatives in this area, targeting prevention, community awareness, and empowering society to tackle this challenge while also enhancing international collaboration.
He noted that the UAE embraces an innovative approach to combating drug issues, mentioning that the fruitful partnership has now exceeded a decade. He expressed gratitude for the UAE’s initiative to host this important event in alignment with the “Year of Community.”
He clarified that the community-oriented nature of this event has helped shine a light on the roles various community segments play in addressing this critical issue.