Abu Dhabi: A two-day youth retreat to discuss young people’s ambitions and aspirations is set to begin on Monday.
The event, announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will involve brainstorming sessions on a wide range of issues already proposed by the youth during their interactions with the hashtag ‘The national dialogue around youth.’
The retreat reflects the professionality of UAE government work where it managed to develop an integrated system to support youth and provide them with an enabling environment that drives them for more innovation, excellence and constructive contributions to develop society.
The UAE is following in the footsteps of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who waw youth as a treasure and the driving force for a better future. Shaikh Zayed used to say: “We have to pave the way for our youth’s aspirations and remove all obstacles hindering their way to success and excellence. We have to provide them with the tools and experiences they need.”
Naming Shamma Al Mazroui, the youngest minister in the world, as the Minister of State for Youth Affairs is the best example of the leadership’s keenness to invest in the Emirati youth. She was selected after Shaikh Mohammad asked for nominations for this post in which he said in a tweet, “I want to choose a male or female youth under the age of 25 to represent the Emirati youth and their aspirations, I want him/her [to be] a minister with us in the government.
While reviewing the action plan and the 100-day programme of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Shaikh Mohammad said: ““Governments cannot carry out sustainable development without meaningful partnerships with the youth.”
