Amar Al Mualla calls youth the engine of the UAE's future

On International Youth Day, Sheikh Dr. Ammar bin Nasser Al Mualla argues that youth empowerment, leadership development and investment in knowledge are essential to the UAE's long-term competitiveness. He says the real measure of celebration is turning youth support into policy, opportunity and sustained participation.

Why it matters: - Youth are already at the center of economic, technological and environmental change. - The ability to turn youth potential into impact depends on education, opportunity and leadership pathways. - The UAE's approach frames young people as active partners in development, not just future beneficiaries.

What happened: - On International Youth Day, Sheikh Dr. Ammar bin Nasser Al Mualla highlighted the importance of empowering youth and building young leaders. - The piece argues that youth should be part of shaping the future through knowledge, innovation and responsibility. - The message is presented as a reflection on the UAE's experience with youth development and national progress.

The details: - Rapid economic, technical, environmental and educational shifts are changing the role of young people. - Artificial intelligence, the digital economy, innovation, clean energy and data are now part of daily reality. - Traditional education alone is no longer enough to prepare a competitive generation. - Young people need digital skills, research, languages, entrepreneurship and critical thinking. - Leadership starts when young people learn responsibility, teamwork, listening and turning ideas into measurable community impact. - Effective youth leadership programs need sustained training, real-world experience and safe spaces to experiment and learn from mistakes. - Youth should help design solutions, not only receive them. - Climate, water, food, energy, pollution and climate change are direct youth issues because they affect economic security and quality of life. - Enabling youth participation in the green economy, environmental innovation and sustainable projects is presented as an investment in resilience. - The UAE has created support across education, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership empowerment and community participation. - The UAE also links youth development to technology, the knowledge economy and sustainability. - The article says young people with knowledge, confidence and opportunity can become founders, researchers, innovators, community leaders and solution-makers. - A linked social media section provides the Emirates Scholar Center's channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and X.

Between the lines: - The core argument is that youth policy should move beyond celebration and rhetoric toward long-term systems. - The article pushes a skills-first model of development, where adaptability matters as much as credentials. - It also reflects a broader national narrative: youth empowerment is treated as a strategic pillar of UAE competitiveness.

What's next: - The message points toward more policies, institutions and long-term pathways that give youth real decision-making roles. - The article says future progress depends on continued investment in education, leadership, innovation and sustainable opportunity. - The UAE's youth model is presented as an ongoing project rather than a one-day observance.

The bottom line: - The article's central claim is simple: the UAE will build a stronger future by treating youth as a present-day force for transformation.