His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, called for the concerted efforts of all people and institutions to create greater platforms for young people, to allow them to contribute to national efforts and endeavours for sustainable development. 

HH Sheikh Mansour stated that there is a unique energy inherent in youth, adding that what is needed is for their role to be activated such that they can become pioneers in building a better future for themselves and their countries.  

This came during His Highness’ presence at, and sponsorship of, the Arab Youth Forum, held under the chairmanship of HE Shamma bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs.  The sessions will take place over three days within the World Government Summit, which was launched today in Dubai and will continue until February 14.   

HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed participated in the dialogue between the young delegates during the session on education and entrepreneurship.  The young people presented to His Highness a number of practical initiatives designed to contribute to the development of realistic solutions to overcome a number of challenges and to help them participate in the development process.  

At the end of the meeting, His Highness called for the scope of Arab youth participation in public life to be expanded, such that it would include both public and private sector institutions.  His Highness believes that young people are able to adapt their skills to meet trends in the labour market that would enable appropriate job opportunities to be provided for them.  This is particularly relevant for the different areas of applied and pure sciences that are needed to support the UAE's strategy of economic diversification. 

His Highness pointed to the importance of this Forum in providing an opportunity to listen to young people’s suggestions and exchange ideas and views on general issues.  This constitutes a step forward to achieve a greater and more effective young people participation in the Arab societies.  

His Highness went on to say that we seek to bridge the distances between the young people of the Arab world, who after all share many common denominators, adding that we want them to stay in touch, share ideas and aspirations and believe in teamwork, as this is the ideal way to build nations.  

“We call on young people to open up to various global experiences, to delve deeper into the issues facing Arab and Islamic nations, and get to know the options currently available in order to find solutions,” HH Sheikh Mansour said.  “After all, our youth are the future leaders who will be responsible for the completion of each bright stage aimed at the wellbeing, prosperity and good of the people.”  

“The hopes and aspirations of young people are the perfect expression of the future they will work to build.  Despite the fact that some young people's ideas tend to be idealistic, they nevertheless indicates great ambition for their countries’ future.  We must work to provide the necessary platforms to exchange with them views and ideas,” added His Highness.  

The Arab Youth Forum is one of the top ten new sideline events at the Summit’s Fifth Session.  It is also the first and largest such organised international gathering of experts and specialists in the field of happiness, that also provides a forum for key issues like climate change and food security.  

Some 138 countries attended this session, which also included participation by the United Nations (UN), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Latin American Centre for Public Administration and Development.  Also taking part were many academic institutions, including the Universities of Harvard and Oxford, and global consulting firms such as McKinsey, AT Kearney and Ernst & Young.  

The Arab Youth Forum comprises a group of distinguished and influential young people, representing 22 Arab countries.  These young people have been selected, based on their professional and academic achievements and positive influence in their communities, through co-operation between UAE embassies in the Arab world with those institutions and organisations concerned with youth.