Sheikh Hamdan Backs Future Skills for Emirati Youth

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, has shared a powerful message about the future of the UAE. He believes that giving young Emiratis the right skills for the future and helping them use those skills to serve their country is one of the most important goals of the UAE. He explained that building a strong, knowledge-based economy depends on smart and talented young people who are well-educated and ready to turn their ideas into real achievements. These young people are seen as the key to helping the UAE grow and succeed on both the regional and global stages.

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Sheikh Hamdan said that the UAE’s leaders have always believed in the value of investing in people. They see human talent as the most important and lasting resource the country has. He also said that the progress Emiratis are making in many areas shows that they are not just keeping up with global technology—they are also helping to shape the future of it.

He shared these thoughts during a special meeting with more than 100 outstanding participants in the ‘Al Nokhba Program’. This program is organized by the National Service and Reserve Authority and supported by His Excellency Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan. It also works with the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, the Dubai Future Foundation, and Khalifa University. The goal of the program is to support the UAE’s vision of a knowledge-based economy by helping young people become leaders and innovators in a fast-changing world.

The meeting took place at Emirates Towers and was attended by several important leaders, including His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and His Excellency Dr. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, along with other top officials from the Ministry of Defence.

During the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan was shown some amazing projects created by Emirati talents. These projects covered fields such as aviation, robotics, data science, blockchain, biotechnology, advanced water technology, space, IT, nuclear energy, and telecommunications. These creative projects came from months of hard work and training, showing how serious the UAE is about giving its people the tools they need for the future.

Some of the impressive projects included a new cooling system for greenhouses that works well in the UAE’s climate, and fire-resistant materials made from waste like food, marine, and farm leftovers. Others included a satellite that can be moved in space, a robot named SARIM built to cross desert areas, a smart marine system using AI to watch the coastline, and a ventilator machine made in the UAE to help during health emergencies like COVID-19.

The ‘Al Nokhba Program’ also helped participants learn important skills like doing research, testing engineering systems, designing and building devices, public speaking, teamwork, critical thinking, and using what they learned to solve real problems.

Since it started in 2019, the program has trained more than 200 highly skilled Emiratis across 14 groups. It chooses the best young people in the field of technology and helps them grow. Every graduate of the program has found a job shortly after finishing, showing how important this program is for preparing the next generation. These graduates are now helping the UAE become a strong leader in important industries around the world.