ABU DHABI, 11th August 2024 (WAM) – Tomorrow, the United Arab Emirates will celebrate International Youth Day with the world under the theme: ”From Clicks to Progress: Digital Youth Pathways for Sustainable Development”. The day is celebrated annually on August 12 to draw the attention of the international community to youth issues and celebrate the potential of young people as partners in today’s global society. It also offers a chance to raise awareness of the need to ensure youth engagement and participation, which is critical to achieving sustainable human development.
The vision of empowering, qualifying and investing in youth energies in the UAE has achieved enormous strides in recent years, which was evident in their increasing presence in the decision-making process and their active participation in the comprehensive development witnessed by the country.
The UAE’s youth empowerment strategy is based on the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who said: “Empowering and investing in youth and preparing them with future skills and sciences is a fundamental pillar of the UAE’s overall development vision. Youth is the strength, energy, ambition and true wealth. They are also tomorrow’s leaders in their communities.”
The UN says data generated from digital interactions supports evidence-based decision-making. With profound impact across economic, social and environmental dimensions, digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70 percent of the 169 SDG goals while potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals by up to $55 trillion.
In May 2024, the government approved the National Youth Agenda 2031, which aims to empower young Emiratis to be role models regionally and globally. The agenda strives to increase their contribution to economic and social development.
The agenda focuses on five main pillars: to strive for Emirati youth to be a major contributor to national economic growth, to contribute effectively to society while adhering to Emirati values ​​and principles, to globally drive positive change and be a global role model, to keep keep pace with the latest breakthrough in advanced technology and be highly skilled in mastering the skills of the future, and to enjoy the highest levels of health and quality of life.
The National Youth Agenda 2031 aims to qualify more than 100 young Emiratis to represent the country in global organizations and forums related to the national priority sectors, and to provide 100% suitable career paths for youth in the labor market.
Agenda aims to place the UAE among the top 10 countries globally in terms of quality of life for young people. The agenda aims to strengthen national consciousness among the youth, ensure that Emirati youth are the proudest of their identity and national belonging, and to launch the National Youth Charter in this area.
The UAE National Youth Strategy targets Emiratis aged 15-35. The strategy divides this 20-year period into five stages: education, work, family formation, citizenship and national action. It constitutes a roadmap for various institutions, bodies and units that affect youth in the country, and for various government and private initiatives to empower youth in all areas. The strategy has resulted in programs and initiatives that support Emirati youth and enable them to maximize their abilities, realize their potential and pursue opportunities of their choosing.
In June 2019, the UAE government made it mandatory for federal agencies to include young Emiratis (under the age of 30) on the boards of their respective entities.
The Federal Youth Authority has launched a series of initiatives to engage young people in various fields, such as youth councils, which harness youth energy and empower them in various sectors. The authority’s key pillars include youth engagement, the youth housing policy and several other policies that recognize the positive impact young people can have on society. The policy aims to give young people the opportunity to be more proactive in the development of the country.
The Youth Retreat helps young people create a plan for themselves, and the Youth Agenda, the first of its kind, reinforces the role of Emirati youth in creating positive change. The UAE is also identifying young leadership talent through the UAE Government Leadership Programme, and empowering the role of UAE youth globally through the Emirates Youth Global Initiative.
In 2017, the United Arab Emirates launched the Arab Youth Center (AYC) during the World Government Summit as a regional initiative that helps develop youth capabilities and supports innovation and creativity in the Arab world. It implements initiatives in various sectors and conducts research among young Arabs to help policy makers design youth-friendly policies. The Center aims to help a generation of young Arab leaders who can shape a brighter future for the Arab world, by organizing initiatives, events and programs that refine their capacities, maximize their potential and encourage them to participate in driving change and leave a positive impact on their communities.
The Center launched a series of strategic initiatives and projects implemented by young individuals, including the Arab Youth Hackathon, the Arab Youth Projects Market initiative and the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Programme. It also launched a series of initiatives from the UAE to the Arab world, including the Youth Development Delegates program in the Arab region, a joint initiative launched by AYC and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to embed young Arabs in 13 UNDP offices to acquire new skills , develop their skills and networks and use their learning experiences to implement initiatives that benefit them, their countries and the entire Arab region.
In April 2022, the UAE launched the National Youth Survey, which aimed to measure the social, political, economic and cultural maturity levels of young people, as well as collect youth-related data in various fields that will be made available to policy makers. and researchers to help them design appropriate policies and strategies, to improve young people’s quality of life, support their needs and invest in their skills.
In the space sector, in July 2020, the UAE launched the Arab Space Pioneers’ Programme, a three-year intensive training program that incubates young talent and aims to expand their career opportunities in the region’s emerging space technology. Under the auspices of the UAE Space Agency, the program will equip young Arab researchers, scientists, inventors and creative talents with the skills and expertise required to lead a career in the growing space sector.