Minister of State for Youth Affairs Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi has underlined the UAE’s commitment to positioning young people as central to the nation’s progress. In remarks reported by the Emirates News Agency, Al Neyadi described youth as decision-makers whose input directly informs policies on digital skills, artificial intelligence and lifelong learning. The statements came during his participation in discussions at the Masdar Forum under the Youth for Sustainability platform organised with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. He pointed to direct engagement with young people as the method through which priorities in financial literacy, community involvement and quality of life are being defined.
The National Youth Agenda 2031, launched by the Federal Youth Authority in 2024, serves as the guiding framework for these efforts according to the authority’s documentation. It sets five strategic goals for Emirati youth covering contributions to economic growth, adherence to national values in community work, development of role models and improvements in overall life quality. Al Neyadi noted that the agenda builds on a legacy of youth investment dating back to the founding era of the UAE under the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The Gulf Statistical Centre reported that youth aged 15 to 34 numbered 23.5 million across the GCC in 2024, representing 38.2 per cent of the total inhabitants across the six member states. Within the UAE the Federal Youth Authority assessment found around 500,000 national youth between 15 and 35 years old among a broader group of five million young residents. These figures highlight the scale of the demographic that national programmes aim to prepare for leadership roles. Projections from the United Nations indicate the GCC youth cohort could expand to 28.6 million by 2050.
Al Neyadi has advocated for mastery of artificial intelligence, data analysis and critical thinking as essential competencies in an era of rapid technological change. The minister observed that enhanced global connectivity is transforming work patterns and human interactions alike. Initiatives such as the Bani digital platform, registration for which opened in conjunction with International Youth Day celebrations, seek to connect youth with opportunities across learning, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Youth councils, now exceeding 224 in number according to the Federal Youth Authority, have executed more than 500 initiatives benefiting over 20,000 young Emiratis. These bodies facilitate youth input into decision-making at local, ministerial and sectoral levels. The authority reported a 65 per cent implementation rate for the first package of programmes under the agenda by mid-2025, spanning entrepreneurship, education, mental health and community empowerment. Al Neyadi, who assumed the ministerial role in 2024 after his tenure as an astronaut, continues to champion these programmes as vital for maintaining the UAE’s competitive edge.
The approach includes addressing challenges such as obesity rates among 25 per cent of 18-to-25-year-olds and ensuring better alignment between education and private sector employment where 62 per cent of graduates seek opportunities. Average marriage ages stand at 29 for men and 27 for women, with high national pride levels between 85 and 90 per cent among youth. Such metrics inform the tailored strategies within the national agenda.
