Qatar's under-30s emerge as architects of national vision

Qatar has transformed its approach to national planning, placing its under-30 population at the forefront. Instead of viewing young people as passive recipients of state policy, the government has made them active contributors to the nation's trajectory. To facilitate this, the state has established platforms for engagement, such as the Qatar Youth Council and the Qatari Youth Forum, and organized events like the Empower Conference.

These initiatives have provided a direct channel for youth involvement in governance, with over 4,000 young individuals participating in the development of the Qatar National Youth Policy, officially endorsed by the Council of Ministers in May 2023.

The policy's development was preceded by extensive outreach, involving surveys and focus groups with 3,272 young people aged 15 to 39, representing a wide spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds. This approach has redefined youth engagement, shifting from mere participation to wielding influence and taking leadership roles, thereby integrating youth investment into the core of Qatar National Vision 2030 rather than treating it as a peripheral social initiative.

The impact of this strategy is evident in various arenas. For instance, at the 2026 National Scientific Research and Innovation Exhibition, Qatari students showcased 1,467 projects from 249 schools. Notably, the event attracted 2,971 students and 672 teachers, who submitted 616 action research projects focused on enhancing educational methods.

The participation surge indicates a growing interest among younger learners, with attendance rising by 25% year-over-year, surpassing 128% in private schools, and including a notable presence of students in lower grades, such as those in the third and fourth year.

Beyond national boundaries, Qatari students have garnered recognition on the global stage. They have claimed 48 medals and nine awards at prestigious international competitions, including the International Science and Engineering Fair and the ITEX International Engineering Fair. Qatar Foundation-affiliated schools have achieved first place in the Computing and Information Systems category for a machine-learning-based pathology classification project, underscoring the caliber of Qatari youth in scientific and technical fields.

The government's commitment to nurturing these young talents is further demonstrated through skills-building initiatives overseen by the Ministry of Sports and Youth. Programs like Get Ready, Intilaqah, and the Qatar Youth Delegates to the UN are designed to channel youthful energy into professional and diplomatic pathways. This comprehensive pipeline has shown promising results, with Qatar experiencing one of the lowest youth unemployment rates globally, consistently below 0.5% in 2024, and ranking among the top 181 countries in workforce participation, aiming to increase Qatari private-sector employment from 16% in 2020 to 20% by 2030, and boost overall workforce participation to 58% over the same timeframe.