Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi,
Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Federal Youth Authority
What truly makes our youth ready for the future? Is it enough for them to receive the best education, master all the skills needed to thrive in today’s world, and find promising career opportunities? These are all essential foundations, but the readiness we aspire to in the UAE carries a broader meaning; it includes the youth’s ability to be in control of their lives, make decisions with confidence, build stable families, and assume their responsibilities towards their community.
And with that in mind, we believe that discussing the future of youth inevitably leads us to discuss the family and society we want to build for future generations.
The UAE’s experience has taught us that preparing for the future must begin well before change occurs and imposes its challenges upon us. Today, fast-paced economic and technological development, along with rapidly evolving lifestyles, make it increasingly important to prepare young people for situations and decisions that go beyond study and work, extending to various aspects of their lives.
Financial independence, managing commitments, choosing a life partner, and planning to start a family are all milestones that require awareness, communication and planning skills, and taking responsibility. The abilities that young people acquire today will reflect on their personal stability, the families they build, and the generations they will raise in the future.
Here in lies the paramount importance of the family. It is the first and primary environment where a person’s character is formed, and where they learn the meaning of dialogue, respect, cooperation, and responsibility. The family’s role today is increasingly vital given the changes our youth are experiencing, particularly on the digital front and the myriad evolving choices and influences it presents.
Parents must start and maintain a dialogue with their children, in addition to giving them the trust and space they need to experiment and express their opinions. Doing so helps them gain independence and enhances their ability to make mindful decisions, while preserving the values that connect them to their identity and community.
This picture is only complete when we consider the role of national policies in supporting youth across the different stages of their lives. Education opens doors to knowledge, skill-building, and employment, setting the stage for them to achieve independence and play a part in building the future. Meanwhile, economic, social, and family policies provide the conditions that enhance their stability and quality of life.
The power of these policies, We believe, lies in their ability to complement one another and address young people’s needs as one coherent journey that begins with capacity-building, empowering them to assume personal, family, and community responsibilities.
In the years ahead, we see a greater need to engage youth more broadly in discussions on issues tied to their family and social future. How do they view starting a family? What challenges do they face in balancing work and life? What do they need to be better prepared to assume their responsibilities? Listening to their answers and understanding their aspirations provide a solid basis on which we can develop national policies that are more closely aligned with their reality, giving them a direct role in shaping the future they will live in.
Ensuring this readiness impacts much more than the lives of youth themselves; a young person capable of managing responsibilities and building relationships based on mutual understanding and respect will be better suited to establish a stable family. This family will, in turn, raise a new generation that carries forward the values and skills acquired from its environment.
Generation after generation, these capabilities are passed down, evolving, over time, into a source of strength for the community that enhances its cohesion and its ability to keep pace with progress while preserving its values and achievements.
We firmly believe that youth readiness is a key pillar of community sustainability, and that our success in preparing them for the future hinges on their ability to build a balanced life, assume their responsibilities, and establish stable families that pass on our national values to future generations. This calls on us to continue strengthening the connection between educational, economic, social, and family policies, which allows us to ensure our youth are afforded ample opportunities for growth and stability.
When we prepare our youth for life, with all the ambitions and responsibilities they can look forward to, we build a future with strong Emirati families and a resilient society capable of keeping pace with progress and maintaining its cohesion. Here lies the value of true readiness: in youth who shape their future with confidence, families that give young people their strength, and a nation that continues to prosper across generations.
Every young person we prepare today is a pillar for the family of tomorrow, and a driving force for a society that continues to evolve, generation after generation.