World Youth Day: UAE leaders post inspiring message

Abu Dhabi - 'It is today’s youth that will shape our world tomorrow'

The UAE leaders have posted inspiring messages for the youth, expressing trust in them to create a better tomorrow.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had a simple but special message for the youth: “The future is in your hands.”

The tweet posted on the International Youth Day on Thursday reflects the level of trust the UAE Vice-President places in the youth to lead the country to greater heights.

The Government of Dubai Media Office also shared a video that features Sheikh Mohammed narrating a poem he wrote for the day. It talks about the youth fulfilling the UAE’s hopes and dreams.

Sheikh Mohammed narrated:

“They are our country’s tomorrow, her wishes they fulfil.

Like you, when I was young, I envisioned a dream.

For many days, it visited me and drew further near.

Our youths are our champions … our country’s hopes and dreams fulfilled,”

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also took to Twitter on the day to say that the UAE’s “proud history was shaped by our people”.

“It is today’s youth that will shape our world tomorrow. On International Youth Day, let us celebrate their potential, empower them to succeed, and trust them to create a brighter future for all,” he tweeted.

The UAE has launched several initiatives over the past few years to engage the youth in the nation building process.

In 2016, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced the position of a Minister of State for Youth Affairs. Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui – who was one of the youngest ministers in the world when appointed at the age of 22 in 2016 - holds the post currently.

UAE banks on its youth

The country has launched several initiatives to help its youth take on additional responsibilities and fulfil their aspirations. Here are a few:

>> Emirates Youth Opportunities: It is a unified platform that facilitates Emirati youth to access the opportunities available to them in the area of self-development and for serving the country. Several entities are expected to post about opportunities available in their organisations. Opportunities include online training, scholarships, incubators and helping in volunteering efforts to tackle Covid-19.

>> Interactive Youth Lab: It is an innovative initiative aimed at activating the role of youth and investing their creative potential in discovering solutions and ideas for the development of government initiatives and the work of the mGovernment sector.

>> Federal Youth Authority: It was a startup initiative intended to connect every young person to every branch of government.

>> Emirati Youth Board Membership: In June 2019, the UAE Cabinet made it mandatory for federal government entities to include young Emiratis (under 30 years old) in the Boards of Directors of their respective entities. On February 3, 2020, the Cabinet approved the appointment of 33 applicants as members of the Boards of Directors for key federal entities.

>> Youth Councils: It is a unique tool to ensure that the youth represent their points of view and needs at all stages of the policy development process.

>> Youth Circles: Designed by and for the youth, Youth Circles provide two-way dialogues directly between the youth and government, private sector and global leaders.

>> Youth Hubs: They are state-of-the-art spaces done by the youth, for the youth. They are collaborative work and convening spaces that connect young people throughout the UAE with the essential resources and ecosystem for growth.

(Source: Official website of the UAE Government)

• Abu Dhabi