Sunday 01 / February / 2026
Dubai: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the 8th ministerial consultative meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) track, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as part of the proceedings of the 2026 World Governments Summit.
During the meeting, Dr. Mahad Said Ba'owain, Minister of Labour, delivered the Sultanate of Oman’s speech as the current chairing country of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue. He emphasized the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation and exchanging expertise and best practices to contribute to the development and implementation of policies for managing temporary contractual labor mobility. He noted that these efforts aim to achieve mutual benefits for both workers and employers while supporting economic development in both labor-sending and labor-receiving countries.
The meeting featured extensive discussions between Asian labor-sending and receiving nations, addressing several priority issues related to labor mobility within the Asia-GCC corridor. Key topics included the impacts of climate change on labor markets, the mobility of labor and skills to support a just transition toward a green economy, and the status of expatriate labor within the gig economy and digital platforms, in addition to the role of skills and diversity in enhancing labor productivity.
Oman also participated in the senior officials' meeting that preceded the ministerial gathering, where the outcomes of technical work and the dialogue’s research agenda—prepared with the support of international partner organizations—were reviewed. These initiatives aim to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and respond to rapid transformations in labor markets.
The ministerial meeting concluded with the discussion and adoption of the Eighth Joint Ministerial Declaration, which reaffirms the commitment of member states to continue enhancing the governance of labor mobility, linking it to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fostering partnership and shared responsibility between labor-sending and labor-receiving countries.
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue was established in 2008 as a regional platform for dialogue and cooperation between Asian labor-sending countries and the GCC labor-receiving countries. It is recognized as one of the most prominent regional frameworks dedicated to labor mobility issues and the management of temporary migration for the purpose of work.
