The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation continues its efforts to empower Arab youth through a range of initiatives and programmes aimed at developing digital and knowledge skills, and enhancing the readiness of young talent to lead the knowledge economy, in line with the targets of the We the UAE 2031 and UAE Centennial 2071 visions.
The Foundation's efforts are anchored in a vision built on investing in people, through specialised programmes to develop digital and technical skills — led by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics — alongside creative, linguistic, research, and leadership skills.
The Future Skills Academy stands as one of the Foundation's most prominent initiatives in the field of digital education, developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Coursera platform.
The Academy aims to reach 10 million Arab learners by 2030 through specialised programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, entrepreneurship, and digital skills.
To date, the Academy has successfully attracted more than 25,000 learners, logged more than 270,000 learning hours, and seen the completion of more than 33,000 training programmes.
The Knowledge Youth Forum continues its role as a regional platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise between young people and experts, while the Dubai International Writing Programme contributes to developing writing skills and discovering young creative talents. The Mohammed bin Rashid–Oxford Scholarship provides support to postgraduate students from the UAE and the Arab world to prepare a generation of researchers and thought leaders.
Jamal bin Huwarib, Executive Director of the Foundation, affirmed that the accelerating global shifts towards an economy based on creativity, innovation, and knowledge competencies multiply the importance of investing in the skills of youth, as they are the force capable of leading the future and creating impact.
He said the Foundation places the empowerment of youth as a strategic priority, through qualitative initiatives that provide them with opportunities for continuous learning, the acquisition of advanced skills, and the enhancement of their capabilities in the fields of technology, innovation, and creativity, keeping pace with global changes and the needs of the future labour market.