UAE at forefront of global drug prevention: UN official

A top United Nations official has praised the UAE as a global leader in the fight against drug abuse.

Judge Hatem Fouad Aly, Regional Representative for the Gulf region at the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), says the country sets a strong example in prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.

Speaking at the Drug Prevention Forum 2025, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Fouad highlighted the UAE’s long-standing partnership with the UNODC.

He described the forum as a key platform to spotlight the dangers of drug abuse and the UAE’s pioneering efforts to address them.

Aly also noted the importance of community involvement, especially in what has been declared the “Year of the Community,” and commended the UAE for its innovative strategies and more than a decade of collaboration with the UN on this issue.