ABU DHABI (WAM)

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Arab Youth Centre on Monday launched the fifth edition of the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders programme, with the participation of 48 participants from 15 Arab countries.

The programme offers a training and practical experience designed to test the ability of traditional diplomatic tools to keep pace with a rapidly changing world, as technology, new actors, and interconnected challenges reshape international relations and sources of power and influence.

The Centre is organising the programme through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, in cooperation with knowledge partners including the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, TRENDS Research and Advisory, and the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE.

Held under the theme "Diplomacy Under the Microscope: Can Yesterday's Tools Still Manage Today's World?", the programme runs until September 10 through two remote training phases, followed by an in-person phase in Abu Dhabi focusing on simulation, negotiation and crisis management.

The new edition takes participants from acquiring knowledge to testing it through scenarios involving negotiation under pressure and the management of multilateral crises, helping develop their analytical, position-formulation, decision-making, and consensus-building skills.

It also examines shifts in power in the 21st century, the influence of technology companies, digital platforms, and non-state actors, as well as the ability of diplomatic tools to keep pace with crises and the growing role of artificial intelligence in communication and decision-making.

In her opening remarks, Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of the Arab Youth Centre, said, "At the Arab Youth Centre, we believe that investing in young Arab diplomatic leaders is an investment in our region's ability to understand the world, engage with it and influence it."

She added that today's young diplomat needs critical-thinking skills, the ability to negotiate and manage crises, an understanding of technology, artificial intelligence and digital diplomacy, and the ability to work effectively in multilateral environments.

Al Hallami said the latest edition was designed to go beyond conventional training by providing an integrated experience combining academic knowledge, analysis, negotiation, practical simulation and fieldwork.

She added that participants would move from understanding transformations and diagnosing challenges to rethinking tools and actors, before progressing to practice, testing and application.

Al Hallami said bringing together talent from 15 Arab countries gives the programme a dimension beyond individual training, adding that the Centre aims to help prepare a generation of specialised young Arabs capable of effective diplomatic representation and influence, while building a regional network of young leaders connected by knowledge, experience and professional relationships.

The current edition is structured around eight main themes that provide an integrated view of the transformations reshaping diplomatic work, beginning with changes in the structure of the international system and the concept of power in the 21st century, including who possesses its tools and how they are used.

The themes also include the evolution of diplomatic tools and rules, artificial intelligence and digital diplomacy, the future of international institutions and challenges affecting their effectiveness, as well as negotiation under pressure and multilateral crisis management.

The content aims to enable participants to connect theoretical analysis with professional practice, while strengthening their ability to interpret developments, assess interests, formulate positions, think critically, and work in teams with diverse priorities and perspectives.

The programme begins with an online training week from August 24 to 27, focusing on diagnosing transformations in the international system and understanding new challenges facing diplomatic work.

During the second week, from August 31 to September 3, participants will reassess diplomatic tools and examine influential actors in the international arena and emerging sources of power, with three hours of training per day during both digital phases.

The programme concludes with an in-person track in Abu Dhabi from September 7-10, transforming acquired knowledge into practical application through negotiation scenarios, crisis-management exercises, and exchanges of expertise.

The final phase will allow participants to test their ability to analyse, respond, and make decisions under conditions simulating real diplomatic working environments. Participants who complete the programme requirements will receive an accredited certificate from the Arab Youth Centre and its academic partners.

This year's edition builds on the programme's development over its previous four editions as an Arab platform for preparing young professionals and those interested in diplomacy, politics, and international relations.

Across its previous four editions, the programme has graduated more than 220 young men and women from 14 Arab countries, worked with more than 18 partners, and delivered over 35 training hours in each edition, while continuously developing its content to keep pace with geopolitical and technological changes and evolving requirements of diplomatic work.

Throughout its development, the programme has benefited from the expertise of Arab and international academic and diplomatic institutions, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Vienna Diplomatic Academy, the Geneva Graduate Institute, Harvard University, and DiploFoundation, alongside its principal partners in the UAE.