The delegation from the Future Leaders Empowerment Programme engaged directly in field activities at the UAE Humanitarian Aid Logistics Centre in Al Arish, assisting with the preparation of food parcels and the loading of trucks bound for Gaza. Participants gained practical insight into the full supply chain that underpins the operation’s ability to deliver consistent relief, according to a WAM report. Their involvement also included tours of associated facilities to understand the broader scope of the UAE’s response to the humanitarian situation.
The Future Leaders Empowerment Programme aims to equip young Emiratis with real-world experience in humanitarian missions as part of their development into future leaders. Organisers said the placement in Al Arish builds on the UAE’s foundational values of solidarity established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, honoured the group at a ceremony marking their contributions to Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has maintained a steady flow of assistance, with WAM figures showing five convoys carrying 533 tonnes of food, shelter materials and other supplies entering Gaza during the past week. The logistics centre in Al Arish plays a central role by receiving, sorting and preparing shipments before they cross the border. Additional components include the UAE Floating Hospital and desalination stations that address both medical and water needs in the region.
Delegation members visited the UAE Floating Hospital, where they observed teams delivering specialised care, including rehabilitation services that have fitted prosthetic limbs for 51 Palestinian amputees under a programme supported by Emirati charities. They also examined the operations at UAE desalination plants in Rafah that supply drinking water to ease conditions in Gaza. The visits provided a complete picture of how different elements of the operation work in coordination, WAM stated.
A concluding event in Al Arish recognised the participants for their week-long engagement in logistics tasks and their interactions with medical staff and patients. Al Nuaimi told WAM that such hands-on participation strengthens the connection between Emirati youth and the nation’s humanitarian principles. The programme has prepared cohorts to handle responsibilities in crisis situations while promoting volunteerism aligned with UAE values.
One participant reflected on the direct impact of the work after time spent at the hospital and logistics centre. “Volunteering at the UAE Floating Hospital allowed me to experience the true meaning of giving. Bringing joy or easing pain for a patient, even with a word or a smile, was deeply meaningful. At the logistics centre, I felt immense gratitude and pride preparing the aid parcels, knowing every parcel carries part of our humanity to our brothers and sisters in Gaza. It made me feel part of something greater, part of the UAE’s message of giving and solidarity,” she said.
