International Youth Day 2025: "Empowering Youth is Essential for UAE's National Advancement!"
In a strategic move to prioritise youth development, Siemens Energy has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Khalifa University to establish the Siemens Energy Innovation Center (ICA) in Abu Dhabi. This partnership forms part of a broader trend in the MENA region, where the private sector is actively empowering young talent through diverse programs and partnerships.
Over the next 15 years, over 127 million young people are expected to enter the job market in the MENA region. Recognising the potential of this demographic shift, the Federal Youth Authority in the UAE has initiated several initiatives aimed at empowering the nation's young talent.
One such initiative is the Siemens Energy UAE Youth Council, which is now officially part of the Federal Youth Authority's UAE Youth Council network. This council will contribute to strategic discussions, lead community initiatives, and help shape the company's internal culture.
Private sector initiatives are not limited to offering internships. For instance, the KFC TAWAR program, a partnership between KFC and INJAZ Al-Arab, targets 900 youth with career camps, workshops, and digital learning focused on foundational skills and mentorship. This program has proven impact in Egypt and Lebanon.
Similarly, the TechEdge program in Kuwait, a collaboration among NBK, Zain Kuwait, and the National University of Singapore, provides high-quality tech education and training to early-career professionals.
Masdar's Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Mentorship Program engages STEM and sustainability-focused youth through mentoring and industry workshops, representing the private sector's commitment to energy transition and sustainability leadership.
Cross-border collaboration and climate-related youth empowerment are advanced through initiatives like the Arava Institute's shared natural resources management programs, fostering regional cooperation despite political challenges. Proposals for a MENA Green Deal aim to scale local climate solutions via youth involvement, innovation hubs, and regional awards.
The UNDP’s ShababEEK NextGenYouth platform serves as a digital hub connecting young changemakers across MENA, facilitating entrepreneurship, climate action, and civic engagement.
Siemens Energy also supports initiatives like the Jusoor International program, which exposes youth to global industry environments and strengthens their ability to lead across borders. The company has launched the Siemens Energy UAE Youth Council, a platform giving Emirati youth a collective voice within the company.
The leaders of tomorrow will need to be globally fluent, digitally agile, and grounded in purpose. The success of unlocking this potential depends on the decisions and actions taken today. This demographic shift is considered a generational inflection point for the economic, social, and political trajectory of the region.
H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that youth are the strength, energy, ambition, and wealth of the nation. To meet the challenges of the global energy transition, a new kind of leadership is needed - one that is inclusive, innovative, and intergenerational. Mentorship, according to the author, isn't about having all the answers, but about creating space for growth, connection, and shared purpose.
Investing in youth should be a strategic priority for building a sustainable and innovation-driven economy. Siemens Energy sees young people as essential contributors to the energy transition already underway. Adaptability is crucial for the next generation, as industries are transforming at unprecedented speeds. At the Siemens Energy Innovation Center (ICA), young talents collaborate with academia, industry, and government to co-develop and commercialize cutting-edge ClimateTech solutions.
References:
[1] KFC TAWAR program: https://www.injaz.org/programs/tawar [2] TechEdge program in Kuwait: https://www.nbk.com.kw/en/careers/talent-development/tech-edge [3] Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Mentorship Program by Masdar: https://www.masdar.ae/en/about-us/careers/youth-4-sustainability-mentorship-program [4] Arava Institute's shared natural resources management programs: https://arava.org/what-we-do/programs/ [5] UNDP’s ShababEEK NextGenYouth platform: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/youth/nextgenyouth.html
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