Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Tomorrow, Tuesday, the UAE will celebrate “International Youth Day”. This celebration coincides with the tremendous leaps achieved by the path of empowering and qualifying young people in the country. These leaps are embodied by their increasing presence in decision-making centers and their active participation in the comprehensive development process.
International Youth Day 2025 highlights the unique role that young people play. They transform global ambitions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals into a vibrant societal reality. They do this through their creativity and energies, which are indispensable on this path.
The occasion comes as the UAE continues to achieve the outcomes of the National Youth Agenda until 2031. This agenda aims for Emirati youth to be the most prominent model locally and globally in thought and values. It also aims for them to contribute effectively to economic and social development and national responsibility.
The UAE continues its efforts to empower youth, develop their capabilities, and qualify them to assume responsibility. This year witnessed the launch of the “Emirates Youth Council for Entrepreneurship” with the aim of activating the role of youth in enhancing economic development and the competitiveness of national entrepreneurship. Additionally, it launched the “Young Financial Advisors” program. This program aims to qualify and prepare Emirati youth as accredited financial advisors, capable of providing effective financial education. This contributes to raising the quality of financial decisions and stimulating savings and investment.
The UAE adopted the first youth space in “Madar 39” in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It also adopted the first youth space in the Emirate of Fujairah within the first government agency at the state level. This is part of the “Youth Spaces” initiative within the first package of initiatives and projects of the National Youth Agenda 2031.
The year 2025 witnessed the launch of the Emirates Youth Council for Humanitarian Action. This was done by the Council of International Humanitarian Affairs in cooperation with the Federal Youth Foundation. The aim is to enable young people to contribute effectively to achieving sustainable international development goals.
The UAE hosted the fourth edition of the Arab Meeting of Young Leaders. This meeting was held as part of the 2025 World Government Summit. It discussed proposals for transforming the challenges of the Arab region into opportunities. Key topics included raising the voice of young people, involving them in decision-making and policy development, and exchanging experiences. This also involves sharing practices that are appropriate for Arab societies.
Over the past years, the UAE has succeeded in activating youth participation and enhancing their leadership spirit through a set of steps. Most notably, the Cabinet’s approval in 2016 of the establishment of the UAE Youth Council and the Federal Youth Foundation. This foundation coordinates with local youth councils to set an annual agenda for youth activities and events in the country.
The UAE launched the National Youth Strategy, which is based on 5 main transformations young people go through from ages 15 to 35. These transformations include the stages of education, work, following a healthy and safe lifestyle, starting a family, and practicing citizenship and national work.
In 2019, the Council of Ministers issued a decision requiring the participation of Emirati youth members in the boards of directors of government agencies, institutions, and companies. In April 2022, it launched the “National Youth Survey.” The survey aims to measure the level of social, political, economic, and cultural maturity of youth in the country. Additionally, it collects data related to the youth category in various sectors of the country. This data is then made available to decision-makers, stakeholders, and researchers.
The year 2023 witnessed the launch of the “Emirates Youth Global Initiative”. This initiative is supervised by the Federal Youth Foundation. It aims to enhance the role of youth globally in introducing the authentic values of the UAE, its culture, and its civilized experience in tolerance and coexistence.
The UAE is a major incubator for the aspirations and ambitions of Arab youth. In 2017, the UAE announced the Arab Youth Center, which represents a regional youth center in the country. It helps develop youth capabilities and supports innovation and creativity in the Arab world.
The Center has launched several strategic initiatives and projects implemented by youth, and their impact is being monitored in various countries. These initiatives include the Arab Youth Hackathon, the Arab Youth Projects Market, the Youth Solutions Initiative, and the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Program.
In 2018, the UAE launched the digital platform “Arab Youth Opportunities”. This platform represents a reference for all the qualitative opportunities available to Arab youth across the Arab world. It includes study missions, development, and training programs. In July 2020, it also launched the “Arab Space Geniuses” program. This program is supervised by the UAE Space Agency. Its aim is to embrace and sponsor a distinguished scientific elite of Arab geniuses and those with scientific talents and competencies. The program targets youth from the Arab world to prepare and train them in the field of space science and technology.
