UAE, Qatar to boost accountability and financial oversight cooperation

President of UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA), Humaid Obaid Khalifa Obaid Abushibs, has received President of the Qatar’s State Audit Bureau, Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Emadi, and his accompanying delegation in Abu Dhabi as part of an official visit aimed at expanding partnership and coordination in the fields of financial oversight and accountability.

The meeting addressed ways to enhance institutional knowledge exchange, improve the efficiency of audit practices, and adopt innovative approaches that contribute to raising the effectiveness of auditing systems in the public sector.

Both sides also discussed the importance of leveraging modern technologies-chief among them artificial intelligence-to improve operational quality, transparency, and accountability.

Both parties emphasised the importance of building national capabilities and intensifying joint institutional coordination, thereby contributing to greater trust in Gulf auditing institutions at both regional and international levels.

The visit is part of the efforts made by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to strengthen oversight integration and unify audit efforts to safeguard public resources and support sustainable development.

Earlier in January Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA), has concluded an official visit to the Republic of Portugal aimed at fostering effective strategic partnerships and exchanging best practices to achieve excellence in protecting public resources.

During the visit, Abushibs met with several ministers and leaders to explore avenues of bilateral cooperation in the fields of oversight, auditing, and promoting integrity.

Among those he met were Filipa Urbano Calvão, President of the Court of Auditors in Portugal, and António Pires da Graça, Head of the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism in Portugal.

The UAEAA also highlighted its ongoing efforts to enhance governance systems, emphasising the active role of regulatory sectors responsible for oversight and integrity and their integrated coordination approach to achieving sustainable national resources, as well as presenting innovative technical solutions it employs to support its strategy of promoting transparency, governance, and accountability.

According to the UAEAA, aligning expertise and exchanging global best practices, alongside showcasing effective models applied to improve audit efficiency, reflect the UAE’s strategy of enhancing international cooperation across various fields.

Meanwhile in October 2024, a delegation from the UAE’s Accountability Authority (UAEAA) has concluded an official visit to the Republic of Korea, during which they explored enhancing cooperation in public oversight, auditing, and combating corruption.

As part of the visit, Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Chairman of the UAEAA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Choe Jaehyoeng, Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection of the Republic of Korea (BAI), marking a significant step towards strengthening institutional cooperation between the two sides.

Abushibs also held several meetings with senior officials in the Republic of Korea, including Ryu Chul Whan, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, to discuss future cooperation prospects and the exchange of expertise in shared fields.

Last year the UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA) and the Malaysian National Audit Department discussed cooperation between the two bodies in their respective areas of expertise.

This discussion took place during a meeting between Humaid Obaid Abu Shabas, Chairman of the UAE Accountability Authority, and Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Auditor-General of Malaysia, as part of an official visit by the UAEAA delegation to Malaysia.

The visit reflects the UAEAA’s commitment to establishing effective strategic partnerships with regulatory counterparts and staying informed on the latest concepts and developments in oversight at both regional and international levels.

During the meeting, the two sides explored opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation in various auditing fields. They reviewed the role, powers, and tasks of the UAEAA, and discussed the UAE’s oversight system, best practices, and data analysis tools used to protect public resources. The Malaysian regulatory body presented the role of the National Audit Academy Malaysia, highlighting its courses, programmes, and training activities conducted by professional and experienced faculty members.

Last year a delegation from the UAE Accountability Authority UAEAA, led by its President Humaid Obaid Abushibs, visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, (Nazaha) and the General Court of Audit.

WAM