UAE President highlights youth leadership and innovation as core drivers of national progress and global development
ABU DHABI, August 12, 2026:UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan marked International Youth Day on Wednesday by reaffirming the country’s profound confidence in its young generation, calling them the focal point of the nation’s future and key drivers of global development.
In an official statement shared on social media platform X, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the central role young people play in fostering innovation, leadership, and national prosperity.
“On International Youth Day, we reaffirm our deep-rooted confidence in the youth of the UAE and underscore our pride in their ongoing contributions to our nation’s development,” the UAE President said. “By embracing innovation and leadership, young people are central to achieving a future in which opportunity can grow for all.”
Sheikh Mohamed emphasized that empowering young minds remains a strategic national priority and a long-term investment in global progress. “The UAE is determined to continue empowering youth as a lasting investment in the shared progress and prosperity of our world,” he added.
Joining the tributes, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, commended young Emiratis for leading major scientific, economic, and technological initiatives across the country. Sheikh Mohammed noted that youth energy serves as the nation’s primary engine toward achieving global excellence, reaffirming that youth development will remain a cornerstone of UAE governance.
The United Nations designates August 12 as International Youth Day to raise awareness on youth issues and celebrate the potential of young people as partners in today’s global society. Over the past decade, the UAE has established specialized federal youth councils, launched youth-led innovation hubs, and appointed young leaders to ministerial roles to ensure youth participate directly in policy decisions and national development plans.
