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Career and environment top priorities of youths in UAE

ABU DHABI — Youths, both UAE nationals and expatriates, have a high awareness of the global environmental issues and are focused on the career goals as well.

They are keen to secure education loans from banks, as they believe education is the key to progress.

Talking to Khaleej Times on the eve of International Youth Day, some of the youths spelt out their priorities clearly. Most of them said they feel strongly about the environmental issues.

On the occasion of the International Youth Day, a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on climate change, has urged the young generation to "take action" on climate change in order to preserve the environment, "as it could cause an unravelling of the progress and have serious implications for peace and security, unless we make radical changes in the way we live."

Talking about the importance of preserving the environment, Saif Mohammed Al Marikhi, an Emirati youth, told Khaleej Times: "We make it a point not to waste papers and we switch off the ACs when going out of the house."

About his career, Al Marikhi said, "It's my ambition to become a petroleum engineer. Higher education has become very expensive these days. I plan to take an education loan to pursue my ambition."

Hameed Saeed Al Junaibi, 21, said, "We are aware that climate change and global warming are big threats for the world. We'll do whatever we can to save our environment."

Abdullah Khalifa Al Mansoori, 22, too is deeply concerned about environmental issues and avoids wasting any material at home or outside. "Global warming will affect everything, including natural resources," he noted.

Alia Faisal, a 22-year-old Jordanian who has majored in Arabic journalism from Sharjah University, said, "I am now pursuing courses in English language and computer to eke out a better career for myself. The competition in the job market is very tough so we have to prepare ourselves accordingly."

Rana Mahmoud, 18, also from Jordan, who wants to become a nurse, and Najla Yaseen Al Ghazali, 17, who intends to flourish in business, are both pursuing English language courses. They said they were fully focused on their careers and were ready to overcome all hurdles.

Saleh Khalifa Al Suwaidi, 18, from Ras Al Khaimah, who works with Adnoc as a fuelling operator, said he wants to study business management so he could set up his own business.

Mane Ahmed Mane, a 20-year-old Emirati, said he wants to become a pilot and his parents were fully supportive of his ambition.

He also expressed his concern on global warming, which he referred to as "the biggest threat to the world".

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