UAE joins G20 anti-corruption talks in South Africa

The United Arab Emirates participated in the Group of 20 (G20) Anti-Corruption Working Group ministerial meeting held in Mpumalanga, South Africa, the state news agency WAM reported Friday.

The delegation was led by Humaid Obaid Khalifa Obaid Abushibs, head of the UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA).

The delegation said the Emirates views accountability and anti-corruption as a strategic investment in sustainable development, in line with national directives that prioritize transparency and integrity.

The UAEAA delegation added that fighting corruption requires joint international efforts and stronger cooperation between audit and accountability institutions.

It also underlined the importance of public-private partnerships to build trust in the business and investment environment.

South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency for 2025. The G20 is an international forum of major economies — 19 countries plus the European Union, and since 2023, the African Union.

The UAE is not a G20 member, but regularly participates as an invited guest in various meetings and working groups.

The UAE is taking part in the G20 for the second consecutive year, as the international community emphasizes unity and solidarity in the face of global challenges.

The country was previously invited to the G20 by France in 2011, Saudi Arabia in 2020, Indonesia in 2022, and India in 2023.

Its participation reflects the UAE’s contributions to key G20 priorities, including post-pandemic recovery, climate action, the energy transition, disaster risk reduction, debt vulnerability, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — issues that continue to shape the global agenda.