Young Emiratis turn India trips into 25 ideas to strengthen UAE-India ties

Sixty young Emiratis took part in the Zayed Education Foundation’s UAE-India Leaders Program, visiting India to learn about its business, government, academic and cultural sectors. Upon returning, they were tasked with turning their newfound knowledge into practical ideas to enhance the UAE-India relationship. Three projects were chosen as winners, each representing a different sector.

Mansour Al Heera, a filmmaker, won the Arts and Culture category for his proposal INTERPLAY, a UAE-India music exchange program. The initiative aims to unite musicians and cultural communities from both nations. Al Heera expressed that the trip made him realize the extent of the Indian community within the UAE and sparked his curiosity to explore further.

Sara Alblooshi, an NYU Abu Dhabi graduate, was the winner in the International Relations category. Her project, UAE-India Youth Enterprise Bridge, aims to connect young entrepreneurs and foster business opportunities between the two countries. Alblooshi noted that the visit helped her identify similarities between Emirati and Indian youth, who both value progress and their respective cultural heritage.

Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, a senior executive at Masdar City, took home the business and innovation prize for his concept, the Masdar City-India STEM Innovation Corridor. The project focuses on strengthening cooperation and exchanges in clean technology and sustainability. Al Kaabi expressed excitement about the potential partnerships and opportunities that could arise from this program.