Investing in youth skills represents one of the key pillars of the development journey in the United Arab Emirates, which continues to build an integrated system to empower new generations and equip them with future skills, enhancing their readiness for the labour market and supporting the country's drive towards a knowledge economy and innovation.
Officials told Al Bayan, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, that developing youth capabilities has become a fundamental pillar for enhancing the country's competitiveness, noting that building the individual goes beyond academic attainment to encompass the development of digital, technical, innovative and leadership skills that enable young people to keep pace with global transformations and shape the future.
The Ministry of Education affirmed that skills development is one of the most important foundations for preparing generations capable of leading the future, stressing the vital role of the family in discovering and nurturing children's abilities in partnership with schools and the community.
The ministry clarified that developing students' skills is not limited to academic achievement, but also encompasses creative thinking, innovation, communication and the capacity for continuous learning.
Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said that investing in youth skills has become a national and strategic necessity, affirming that the future of nations depends on the ability of their people to innovate and transform knowledge into sustainable solutions and development opportunities.
He affirmed that building a generation that possesses skills in innovation, research and exploration represents a guarantee for the sustainability of national achievements and for strengthening the UAE's position in global competitiveness indices.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Murad Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Juvenile Awareness and Care Association, affirmed that developing youth skills represents an investment in the future of society, noting that equipping young people with life, digital and professional skills enhances their ability to adapt to change and participate in the development journey.
He explained that acquiring skills contributes to building young people's character, boosting their self-confidence and developing their capacity for creative thinking and problem-solving.
Mahra Al Mutaiwee, Director of the Regional Centre for Educational Planning, said that developing youth skills has become the core of modern educational planning and is no longer a supplementary track to education, affirming that possessing knowledge requires practical skills that enable young people to think, analyse, innovate and make decisions.
She added that rapid transformations in the labour market require a shift from a focus on qualifications to building competence, and from delivering information to developing practical capabilities that help young people solve problems, use technology and artificial intelligence consciously, and work within multidisciplinary teams.
She affirmed that the UAE recognised early on the importance of investing in youth skills, and has therefore adopted initiatives that link education to future skills and provide students with environments that encourage experimentation, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Maher Hattab, Director-General of Al Ahliya Charitable Schools at the national level, affirmed that the UAE is not only investing in educating young people, but in building their capabilities and empowering them to transform knowledge into added value.
He noted that critical thinking, innovation, artificial intelligence, resilience and the capacity for continuous learning have become key factors for young people's success amid the transformations taking place in the labour market.
He explained that integrating future skills into education reflects a proactive vision for preparing students for the stages ahead, affirming that every skill a young person acquires represents an investment in the future of the national economy and in enhancing the UAE's competitiveness.