Sultan Al Neyadi: Youth are the decision makers in the future of the UAE

Abu Dhabi, 14 January / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, stressed that empowering young people with digital skills, understanding artificial intelligence, and continuous learning constitutes the cornerstone of creating a sustainable future capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations at the global level, stressing that the role of young people in the UAE is not limited to participation, but rather their voices are heard and they become decision makers.

This came during His Excellency’s participation in the dialogue session “Leading the Next Generation: Skills and Opportunities for Youth,” which was organized within the activities of the “Youth for Sustainability” platform forum of Masdar, in cooperation with the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi, within the “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026.”

His Excellency addressed the themes of the future related to digital skills, financial literacy, community participation, quality of life, and role-modeling within the framework of national identity, explaining that these areas are managed through direct communication with young people, who not only participate by attending, but their voices are heard, and they not only contribute to decision-making, but become decision-makers themselves.

He highlighted the accelerating transformation in the world of communications, noting that the transition to high speeds, high clarity, and strong communication with the entire world contributed to raising the level of human and technical interaction, and reshaped the patterns of work and communication.

He stressed that one of the greatest skills in the current era is the ability to digitally empower, pointing out that digitization is heading everywhere, and that the use of artificial intelligence and the ability to analyze data through it, in addition to critical thinking and thinking supported by artificial intelligence, have become extremely important skills to keep pace with the requirements of the future.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of developing social skills, explaining that no matter how advanced the use of computers and robots is, interpersonal skills will remain necessary, especially in work environments that require working within teams and under the pressure of large projects, which requires the ability to cooperate, communicate, and work together to achieve one goal.

He pointed out that the third skill that he is keen to practice constantly is continuous learning, stressing that young people have no choice but to learn something new every day. He considered that the moment when a person believes that he has reached a stage in which he knows everything is a dangerous moment, calling for the permanent development of skills, whether through learning a new language, programming, or other analytical skills, not limited to using digital platforms only.

Speaking to young professionals gathered to learn and interact with young minds, especially those who have access to water, energy, oxygen and appropriate temperatures, His Excellency explained that many of these resources we take for granted, noting that his experience during his mission in space revealed the importance of managing resources very efficiently.

He explained that clothes, water vapor and sweat are recycled and purified, as approximately 95% of water is recycled, in addition to testing many very advanced technologies in the field of agriculture, pointing out that during the mission an attempt was made to grow some vegetables, but the experience confirmed that things happen differently in harsh environments, which requires a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with them.

His Excellency called on young people, as future leaders, to search for promising opportunities, especially in the areas of food security, renewable energy, and sustainable development, stressing that these sectors will form the core of future businesses and a major driver of growth.

He expressed his appreciation for the successful model that the UAE is implementing in empowering youth, stressing gratitude for this approach that places youth at the heart of the development process and shaping the future.

He stressed that continuous learning represents an essential foundation for young people and future generations, calling for them to learn what they love and constantly hone their skills, which contributes to creating a more sustainable and prosperous future.

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