Dubai: The first National Youth Agenda was launched on Wednesday to reinforce the involvement of Emirati youth in economic development.
The initiative, announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the concluding day of the two-day Youth Retreat, aims to provide Emirati youth with a conducive environment to help them contribute effectively to national and global agendas.
Present at the event were Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui, Minister of State for Youth.
Speaking on the occasion, Shaikh Mohammad said: “Youth are the powerhouse of any nation and its hope for building a better tomorrow as nations are built and the future shaped by youth, capitalising on their abilities and skills. They are the driving force behind any nation’s progress and advancement. We invest in youth to achieve the progress that we aspire to and steadily pave the way for a prosperous future for current and coming generations.”
The National Youth Agenda aims to strengthen the youth’s sense of belonging and loyalty to the country and enable young generations cherish their culture and identity.
Programmes will be designed specifically to nurture youth who adhere to national values and reflect the Emirati identity and culture. The programmes will create a fertile ground that allow youth to increase productivity and leadership and achieve their full potential. It also seeks to create an environment that enables young people to take responsibility at all levels to plan for their future.
The agenda strives to create a healthy and safe environment to protect youth against hazards.
Shaikh Mohammad added: “The UAE youth are its human assets and source of wealth as well as its beating heart. With their high spirit, we will shape a brighter future and attain the highest ranks and positions globally.”
The recommended youth-related policies will be submitted to the Emirates Youth Council to elicit their opinion and gauge the impressions and feedback of youth through youth councils in each emirate.
Youth Councils across the emirate are regarded as an executive arm of the youth and the agenda will create specialised councils for youth at each ministry that seeks to leverage their competencies in improving the quality of services provided by the ministry.
According to the new youth policy, young Emiratis will be included on the lists of target groups in all media plans developed by UAE organisations, including launching global youth councils to be updated with the best international practices.
The policy of activating the role of the youth also involves the establishment of a national centre for youth data through the inclusion of youth in all opinion polls.
There will be an interactive platform that connects the UAE government with youth, to collectively work on all youth initiatives through an annual youth retreat.
The youth agenda also includes a national plan for entrepreneurship which is to have 36 organisations under its umbrella, including local ministries and establishments as well as business incubators in both the public and private sectors.
The plan encompasses many initiatives, including the establishment of an advisory council for entrepreneurship composed of experts, specialists and entrepreneurs to create a network of young Emirati entrepreneurs and launch a platform for collective funding, as well as a festival for entrepreneurs and a national entrepreneurship committee.
The two-day youth retreat featured several sessions that focused on a number of issues, including youth and education, entrepreneurship, safety, interaction, responsibility, Emirati values, health, and productivity.
