Abstract
PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of government institutions and prompted a broad range of policy measures from governments around the world. Policy responses to the pandemic have varied considerably, both in nature and in success. This paper highlights the policy capacities of the UAE in different areas that have contributed to managing the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the paper examines the functional capacity, analytical capacity, fiscal capacity, well-timed information-sharing capacity and political capacity of the UAE in addressing the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study on which this paper was based adopted a mixed-method approach to analyze policy capacities. The trajectory and timeframe of COVID-19 from February 2020 to February 2021 were observed intensively and included in the policy capacity analysis. The secondary dataset was collected from several sources and assessed using rapid content analysis to highlight the formal and institutional policy measures implemented during the crisis. To complement the policy analysis and understand the key role of policymakers, semi-structured interviews were conducted with local officials working in various line departments that formulate and implement policy strategies for the UAE government.FindingsThe findings of the study showed that although COVID-19 has severely impacted the UAE, the nation has effectively controlled the spread of the virus and reduced its mortality rate. The UAE government has taken swift policy actions concerning coercive control and mitigation based on a centralized decision-making style, the strengthening of administrative capacity by collaboration, coordination with different departments, successful communication with residents, the allocation of adequate financial resources and a high level of trust in the government by citizens.Originality/valueThis work contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the policy capacity approach to managing the crisis. The UAE case can be used by policymakers as comparative studies of policy designs, tools and capabilities that can be implemented to manage future pandemics and other crises.
Highlights
The entire world is confronting one of the most severe and unprecedented crises in human history
The secondary dataset was collected from several sources, such as Our World in Data (2020), the Oxford University website, Worldometers, journal articles, documents published by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, public media releases and various social media content and assessed via rapid content analysis to highlight the formal and institutional policy measures implemented during the crisis
This study examined the public policy measures taken by the UAE to address and mitigate the COVID-19 health crisis
Summary
The entire world is confronting one of the most severe and unprecedented crises in human history. Managing and resolving social problems depend on interfaces of public policy stages or processes and a prompt interrelationship with (1) identifying the societal problem and expressing demands for government action, (2) setting agendas and discussing issues and problems with differences between persons, groups, coalitions and networks, (3) developing policy design and implementation to resolve crises, (4) crafting crisis narratives and (5) policy legitimation in developing political support for enforcing local and global decisions (Chakrabarty & Chand, 2016) These conditions present critical policy capacity challenges associated with adroit decision-making, public education, relevance, liability, learning and reform and wide-ranging cooperation and coordination between public and private sectors in addressing crises (Boin, 2009). The UAE had no experience in pandemic crisis management and FREP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
