BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Young Emirati women working in the cultural sector are taking their roles as ambassadors of their heritage to heart. They help tell the UAE story and craft experiences that take museum visitors deeper into the Emirati way of life.
The UAE's youth are in a unique position - deeply rooted in tradition, yet fluent in modern ideas, technologies and new ways of connecting. That, they said, is their leverage.
Fatma Mohammed Al Jassim, Accessibility Strategist for Learning and Public Engagement at Zayed National Museum, said that by being actively involved in cultural institutions, young people can help ensure the country's history remains authentic while still resonating with contemporary audiences. "If we fail to claim our own narrative, others will write it for us," Al Jassim told Aletihad.
A wheelchair user since birth, Al Jassim said her own lived experience has shaped how she understands space and belonging. This understanding informs her work as she creates museum experiences where everyone feels welcomed and represented.
"Working as an Accessibility Strategist at Zayed National Museum is both an anchor and a promise," she said. "It is an anchor rooted in the perseverance and determination of my people, and a promise to carry forward the values instilled in us by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan."
Those values, she said, remind young Emiratis of their responsibility to step up, contribute, and help build the future.
Working every day at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Bashayer Mohamed Alkhoori is confident that the youth can "inspire change, challenge assumptions, and shape the future while staying connected to their roots".
She said that potential shines in the way they ask thoughtful questions, share new ideas, and look at the artworks from completely different perspectives.
"Young visitors have shown me that a museum cannot be a static space, it must breathe and evolve," said Alkhoori, the Acting Learning and Engagement Specialist at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The way younger generations consume information is also changing what they expect from museums. Rather than absorbing information passively, they want to learn through interaction, creativity and participation.
"Instead of simply presenting information, we create opportunities for them to explore, question, and make connections," Alkhoori said. "Through storytelling, hands-on workshops, games, creative activities, and discussions, we encourage visitors to discover their own interpretation of the artwork."
The Work Visitors May Not See
Shaping the future of museums doesn't happen only through exhibitions, programmes and visitor interactions. For Alia Abdulla Alshamsi, Technical Maintenance Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi, part of that work happens largely out of public view.
Technical maintenance keeps the building not just structurally sound but safe, stable and suited to preserving artwork, Alshamsi said. She regularly inspects the museum's spaces and building elements, flags defects, and coordinates corrective work before problems escalate - all while weighing how any maintenance activity might affect the art, visitors and daily operations.
"A well-maintained museum allows visitors to move through the spaces safely and comfortably and focus on the art and architecture without being distracted by what is happening behind the scenes," Alshamsi told Aletihad.
International Youth Day, she said, is a reminder that young people are already active contributors to society. "As a young Emirati working at Louvre Abu Dhabi, it is an opportunity to reflect on the responsibility we have to keep learning, developing our skills, and making a positive impact in our communities," Alshamsi said.