Today's Edition
AMEINAH AL ZEYOUDI / WAM (ABU DHABI)
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), in partnership with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), is continuing the Future Pioneers programme to teach Abu Dhabi students the importance of conserving energy and water in line with the Abu Dhabi Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy 2030 goals.
Targeting around 10,000 Grade 11 and 12 students across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the initiative delivers interactive sessions that build awareness of resource challenges, and encourages responsible energy and water use at home and in the community.
The initiative also fosters critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills, inspiring students to design innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
Ahmed Al Falasi, Executive Director of the Energy Efficiency Sector at the DoE, said: “This initiative emulates DoE commitment to advancing community awareness for the generations to come. The initiative’s aim extends beyond promoting consumption efficiency to cultivating a mindful and enterprising generation that has the essential skills and knowledge to meet the sustainability challenges that lie ahead.”
By participating in such programmes, students develop an understanding of energy and water efficiency from an early age, Al Falasi added. “[This] constitutes a long-term investment in their behaviours and the decisions they will make in the future.”
Small Changes, Big Impact
Through the initiative, Grade 12 student Sara Al Hammadi learnt that everyday decisions - no matter how small - could make an impact on wider sustainability goals.
“This initiative opened my eyes to how small actions can make a big difference, like switching off unused lights or reducing water while washing,” said Al Hammadi, who studies at Al Yasat Private School.
Maryam Youssef, an Emirates Private School student, said the programme motivated her to take responsibility and become more mindful of how much water and electricity she’s using in her daily life.
“We learnt that saving resources isn’t just the government’s job-it’s everyone’s,” said Youssef, adding that she is now also urging her family to pay close attention to their energy and water usage.
This shift in mindset, one household at a time, is the ripple that the programme is aiming to create.
Al Falasi explained: “Aligning with the ‘Year of Community’ for 2025, the DoE endeavours - through this initiative - to achieve a concrete impact. This is not only in terms of real savings in consumption, but also through the advancement of an awareness and knowledge-based influence that resonates with the family and the community as a whole.”
Accelerating Innovation
Beyond raising awareness and encouraging the youth to make greener choices, Future Pioneers also seeks to inspire ideas and drive innovative solutions.
Dr Bashaer Al Matrooshi, Executive Director of the Talent Enablement Sector at ADEK, said: “Students are not only learning about energy and water efficiency, they are actively developing the problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills needed to shape a sustainable future. By engaging schools, families, and the wider community, the initiative reinforces ADEK’s vision of empowering youth with the competencies to become responsible leaders who drive positive change well beyond the classroom.”
Ali Al Marzouqi, a student of Al Ittihad Private School, was among those inspired to take action in his own way. In fact, he has begun developing a project that will use smart sensors to lower his campus’ energy consumption.
“What I liked most [about the programme] is that it didn’t just give us information-it made us think about real solutions,” Al Marzouqi said.
6,100 Students Reached
Up to the end of September 2025, the initiative marked a notable milestone, reaching more than 6,100 students in 76 different schools in Abu Dhabi. This success indicates the positive engagement and heightened awareness among both students and the wider education community about the importance of sustainability and the efficient use of resources.
In an effort to turn theoretical ideas into practical measures, the initiative arranged a student hackathon called “Future Pioneers”.
The event was organised and involved a number of school teams, with the participation of more than 100 students that successfully showcased innovative projects contributing to the efficient use of energy and water within schools and communities.
