His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved today the formation of the board of directors of the Young Arab Leaders initiative, naming 11 leading and influential Arab figures from diverse fields to propel it forward.
The Young Arab Leaders initiative, launched 20 years ago, embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his unwavering belief in the capability of Arab youth to shape the region’s future. The initiative aims to prepare young leaders to sustain the Arab world’s development aspirations and safeguard its civilizational legacies.
“These Arab leaders will oversee the expansion of the initiative in the next phase, lead its projects to fruition, grow the number of members and affiliates in this network, attract the best of emerging Arab talent, and support them to contribute more significantly to shaping the future of our Arab societies,” Sheikh Hamdan said.
Regional development plans
The Young Arab Leaders initiative is considered the largest specialized network that seeks to support promising Arab youth and instill in them a culture of entrepreneurship, belief in the future, and relentless pursuit of knowledge, strengthening comprehensive development plans across the region.
“We want this initiative to be a platform to realize the aspirations and dreams of Arab youth, reenacting the region’s golden era in the vanguard of science, culture, technology, and intellectual endeavor. We will support these young Arab leaders to inspire positive change in Arab societies so that their future will be better and brighter,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
Key Arab figures appointed
The board of directors of the Young Arab Leaders initiative is chaired by His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation.
It includes prominent figures from across the region such as Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa from Bahrain, Dr. Tamam Menko from Jordan, Fahad AlGhanim from Kuwait, Aïssata Lam from Mauritania, Ibrahim Mohtaseb from Saudi Arabia, Mona Ataya from Palestine, Basil El-Baz from Egypt, Yazen Altimimi from Iraq, Nasser Al-Khater from Qatar, and Sami Daud from Oman.
Sheikh Hamdan also appointed Fatma Rashid Bujsaim as the Secretary-General of the initiative.
“Mohammed bin Rashid believes that our Arab region possesses tremendous potential, with its 200 million young men and women constituting 200 million opportunities to design and shape a prosperous future. They are our most valuable resource, which calls for building capacities, honing skills, and providing opportunities to realize the hidden potential of youth by providing a comprehensive platform to empower them,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
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Empowering future leaders
The Young Arab Leaders initiative aims to attract 50,000 participants over the coming period and develop and implement several future projects and inspiring ideas with Arab youth. This will be achieved through the creation of a network of influential businesspeople and exceptional leaders in their respective fields to support, mentor, and guide young Arabs. The initiative will also leverage the skills and expertise of members from the regional Young Arab Leaders network to inspire and empower future leaders.
“We look forward to this initiative inspiring remarkable accomplishments through its various skill development programs for the youth and the opportunities it provides for them to showcase their abilities to innovate and succeed across diverse fields,” added Sheikh Hamdan.
