GDRFA Dubai nurtures future entrepreneurs with 'Young Merchant' initiative

Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) today launched its community-focused initiative, “Young Merchant,” which will run until July 3rd. The initiative features 30 children of GDRFA employees, aged between 5 and 15, who will take part in a realistic entrepreneurial experience. The main hall at the Directorate’s headquarters has been transformed into a mini-market, where participants can showcase and sell their products in a hands-on business setting.

This initiative comes as part of GDRFA Dubai’s commitment to the “Year of the Community” vision, offering programs that combine family empowerment with community values. It aims to foster greater participation of future generations in building a more conscious and sustainable society.

The event empowers children to independently manage their own booths, market their products, and engage with visitors, all within a competitive yet encouraging environment designed to spark creativity and enhance practical thinking. At the end of the event, participants will be evaluated based on product quality, display skills, and innovation, with the most outstanding project recognized and awarded.

The initiative also reflects GDRFA’s broader commitment to amplifying positive societal impact through inclusive, targeted programs that cater to all segments of the community- including the next generation. It highlights the institution’s dedication to cultivating a culture of initiative and forward-thinking—core traits of its institutional reputation—within a nurturing environment that promotes talent and leadership development from an early age.

Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said  “Investing in children’s awareness and skills is an investment in Dubai’s future. Through such initiatives, we aim to plant the seeds of initiative in their hearts and introduce them to the values of work and innovation from an early age—within an environment that reflects the institution’s connection with its employees’ families, and instills in their children the confidence that they are part of shaping the future of a city that knows no limits.”

Through initiatives like these, GDRFA Dubai reaffirms its commitment to the vision of the Emirate—empowering the younger generation, fostering a socially conscious environment, and sustaining a strategic balance between delivering high-quality services and serving as a dynamic force for community development.