His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and General Security in Dubai and Chairman of the Board of the Juvenile Awareness and Care Association, has affirmed that investing in children's skills during the summer holiday represents a direct investment in the nation's future.
He noted that the association's programmes are not limited to filling leisure time, but aim to prepare a generation equipped with the technical and professional skills needed to keep pace with the rapidly accelerating changes in the labour market and to build its future through knowledge, work, and innovation.
His remarks came on the sidelines of the 2026 Summer Courses Programme, organised by the association in cooperation with the Lootah Technical Centre. The programme targets 130 male and female participants and includes courses in electronics, robotics, and artificial intelligence, alongside a variety of technical and vocational specialisations. AI-related tracks have been introduced for the first time, a step that reflects the association's commitment to preparing generations with the skills of the future.
He told Al Bayan that the association continues to develop its programmes through partnerships with specialised national institutions, providing content that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application and develops participants' capabilities.
He stressed that the success of any training programme is not measured by the number of participants, but by the impact it leaves on the trainee's character, alongside the importance of applying governance principles and measuring outcomes scientifically.
He affirmed that professional empowerment has become a necessity in light of economic changes and growing competition in the labour market, explaining that possessing practical skills enables young people to create their own opportunities and transform them in the future into private ventures. He called on youth to rely on initiative and skills development rather than waiting for a job offer.
He noted that the inclusion of artificial intelligence within the summer course programmes stems from its growing importance across various sectors and the association's keenness to familiarise participants with the tools of the future and enable them to keep up with digital transformation in education and work. He affirmed that knowledge and skill have become the true capital in the age of technology, production, and innovation.
For his part, Dr Mohammed Murad Abdullah, Secretary-General of the association and overall supervisor of the summer courses, explained that the courses aim to discover talents, develop technical and life skills, entrench a culture of innovation and applied work, and instil values of responsibility, discipline, and teamwork — all contributing to the preparation of a conscious, productive generation capable of serving its nation and community.