The UAE embraces 5 million young people, including 500,000 citizens

Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Federal Youth Foundation, Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, confirmed that nearly five million young men and women live today in the UAE, including about 500,000 Emirati youth between the ages of 15 and 35, who constitute a national force capable of transforming the course of national and social development in the coming decades, stressing that empowering youth is no longer an option, but rather a national necessity that requires a broad partnership between various parties.

This came during the strategic planning workshop organized by the Federal Youth Authority in Dubai, yesterday, to update the youth agenda in the Emirates and develop its transformational strategy to enhance the role of youth in the national development process, with the participation of an elite group of officials and representatives of federal and local authorities and strategic partners, to exchange visions and define national priorities that meet the needs of youth and contribute to enhancing their capabilities and skills to raise youth readiness for the future.

The workshop witnessed the presence of the Foundation’s Director, Khaled Al Nuaimi, with the aim of monitoring the challenges facing young people in the Emirates, defining their future vision and ambitions and strategic priorities that enable them to contribute effectively to the development process, in addition to exchanging visions about future trends in the youth sector, designing innovative qualitative solutions and programs that achieve the desired impact, and learning about the best international practices in youth work.

Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi stressed that the UAE invests in its youth as they are the effective energy to build the future, within the framework of a strategic national vision, and empowers them to be an influential force in development and innovation, noting that the wise leadership gives youth a priority and views them as strategic partners in decision-making, and provides them with a supportive environment that contributes to enhancing their capabilities and refining their skills, in keeping with global trends and raising their readiness for the future.

He said that the national environment today provides broad opportunities for participation and skill-building, enabling young people to contribute to accelerating economic and social growth, pointing out that the next stage will be built on seven main axes, which include strengthening national identity, building a generation capable of keeping pace with the future, supporting mental and physical health and quality of life, enabling continuous learning, preparing for the skills and jobs of the future, supporting entrepreneurship, and employing technology and innovation in development, in addition to enhancing the spirit of volunteerism and active citizenship.

He explained that the UAE, which is ranked 26th globally in the Youth Development Index, possesses all the ingredients to advance to advanced positions, including young energies, ambition, and a supportive environment.

He reviewed a set of national indicators related to the lifestyle of young people, including that 25% of the age group 18-25 years suffer from obesity, and that 60% of young people between 18 and 24 years do not achieve the global recommended physical level from the World Health Organization, in addition to the fact that 62% of graduates face difficulty in obtaining a job in the private sector.

He stressed that these data represent an objective reality that helps formulate more accurate policies, and at the same time reveal great opportunities to enhance the quality of life of young people and raise their future readiness.

He added: “The workshop represents a real opportunity to update the national agenda for youth, and to outline the features of the Federal Youth Foundation’s strategy for the next stage, with a focus on priorities that reflect the interests and diverse needs of young people in terms of strengthening national identity, forming strong and stable families, improving mental and physical health, developing learning skills and readiness for the future, in addition to encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation and advanced technology, and promoting a culture of volunteerism and global citizenship, through which we seek to design qualitative national programs that enable young people to contribute effectively to the development process and build a sustainable future. It is based on empowering current and future generations.”

For his part, Director General of the Federal Youth Foundation, Khaled Al Nuaimi, confirmed that the Federal Youth Foundation has been working since its reorganization in 2024 to strengthen the youth capacity development system through specific programs in innovation, leadership, volunteerism and entrepreneurship, in addition to five youth centers and a plan to expand through three new centers, and the digital platform that contributes to accelerating young people’s access to opportunities and services, in addition to the “Youth Spaces” initiative, which calls on authorities to allocate open spaces that enable young people to learn, work and participate.

He explained that the rapid digital transformations and the great dependence of young people on electronic platforms impose a new design for youth work programs that takes into account the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on their daily lives, pointing out that the Foundation is working with its partners to build an integrated youth path for 20 years starting at the age of 15 years with successive educational and development programs that end at the age of 35 years, ensuring a smooth transition between education and work, and establishing a social life.

50% of the youth population

During the workshop “Strategic Planning…a study that reflects national data,” the Federal Youth Foundation presented a clear picture of youth in the Emirates, as they constitute 50% of the total population, with 49% females and 51% males among citizens. In the education sector, the graduation rate in public schools is 100%, and 90% of students plan their professional paths since secondary school. 85% of Emirati youth also want to study abroad, and 96% of the category is studying. 18-29 years old on a regular basis, while 20% of students between 18 and 24 years old go to information technology specializations, and 62% of young people prefer to work in the private sector, compared to 38% in the government sector.

The Foundation confirmed that national identity remains one of the most prominent elements of the strength of Emirati youth, as between 85% and 90% feel proud of their national identity and belonging, while the average age of marriage is 29 years for men and 27 years for women.

In the field of work and projects, 32% of young people between 18 and 35 years own private businesses, 37% of young people between 20 and 30 years have commercial projects, and 48% of young people use the Arabic language in digital searches, which reflects their connection to their culture and identity. The Federal Youth Foundation confirmed at the conclusion of the workshop that the next stage will focus on updating the national youth agenda, in keeping with global priorities and trends, and achieving the visions and aspirations of the wise leadership.

• 62% of graduates face difficulty in obtaining a job in the private sector.

Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi:

• Empowering youth is no longer an option, but rather a national necessity that requires a broad partnership between various parties.