International Youth Day: The UAE’s young generation is already building its future

In 2026, being young in the UAE could mean a university student working on a start-up between lectures or an athlete training before sunrise. Young Emiratis are increasingly being given opportunities to shape their future, making International Youth Day on August 12 particularly relevant in a country where young people make up a significant portion of the population.

Young, ambitious individuals like Wafiya Darwish Al Me'mari, Salma Al Marri, Zamzam Al Hammadi, Mohammed Yousuf, and Nayla Al Baloushi are already making headlines in various fields such as chess, athletics, combat sports, and extreme sports. These individuals are not waiting for someone to dictate their future but are actively shaping it through their achievements.

The UAE is responding to this growing youth population by providing them with exposure to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space technology, digital trade, and entrepreneurship. The Federal Youth Authority launched the National Readiness Programme – Ghatareef, an 11-month program designed for recent secondary school graduates to combine academic study with practical training in various sectors.

Emirati youth are also increasingly being asked to contribute to decision-making through youth councils in government and emirates. These councils provide young people a platform to discuss issues affecting their generation and develop initiatives. The Abu Dhabi Youth Council and Ajman's Ajyal 2026 strategy are examples of such initiatives.

Even traditional institutions like Dubai Courts are getting involved by hosting youth-focused events, reflecting a wider shift towards recognizing young people as capable of contributing to institutions right now. This message of International Youth Day is crucial as young people do not wait until a certain age to become leaders; they learn by being trusted with responsibility earlier.