
UAE hosts ‘BRICS Youth Dialogue' in Rio
In partnership with Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Tomorrow, the UAE hosted a dynamic BRICS Youth Dialogue, uniting 40 Brazilian university students from four universities in a future focused conversation on international cooperation, sustainability, and the essential role of youth in shaping and influencing the global agenda.
The session was led by Saeed Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs and UAE's BRICS Sherpa, alongside Saleh Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
In his remarks, Al Hajeri said, 'This dialogue reflects the UAE's deep belief that multilateral cooperation must embrace the voices, ideas, and ambitions of the next generation. We do not see youth merely as future leaders, but as essential partners in shaping the solutions we urgently need today. Brazil is a key partner for the UAE both within the BRICS framework and beyond - and we believe that lasting partnerships are built not only through trade and diplomacy, but through trust, connection, and shared aspirations. That begins with open conversations like the one we are having here today.
'It is no coincidence that for more than a decade the Arab Youth Survey has named the UAE as the country where most young people in the Middle East would like to live. A testament to the safety, opportunity, and optimism we strive to foster. Through partnerships like this, we aim to extend that same spirit of possibility across the BRICS community.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sharjah 24
an hour ago
- Sharjah 24
BRICS nations to denounce Trump tariffs
Emerging nations representing about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output are set to unite over what they see as unfair US import tariffs, according to sources familiar with summit negotiations. Since coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive tariffs. His latest salvo comes in the form of letters due to be sent starting Friday informing trading partners of new tariff rates expected next week on July 9. Diplomats from 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have been busy drafting a statement condemning the economic uncertainty. Any final summit declaration is not expected to mention the United States or its president by name. But it is expected to be a clear political shot directed at Washington. "We're anticipating a summit with a cautious tone: it will be difficult to mention the United States by name in the final declaration," Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio's Pontifical Catholic University said. This is particularly the case for China, which has only recently negotiated with the US to lower steep tit-for-tat levies. "This doesn't seem to be the right time to provoke further friction" between the world's two leading economies, Fernandez said. Xi no show Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power. But the summit's political punch will be depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president. "I expect there will be speculation about the reasons for Xi's absence," said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think tank. "The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing," said Hass. The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the Kremlin. Hass said Putin's non-attendance and the fact that India's prime minister will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi's absence. "Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi," who will receive a state lunch, he said. "I expect Xi's decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors." Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage. In the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year, in which he is expected to run. Middle path Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel is also skipping the meeting. A source familiar with the negotiations said the BRICS countries were still in disagreement over how to respond to the wars in Gaza and between Iran and Israel. Iranian negotiators are pushing for a tougher collective stance that goes beyond referencing the need for the creation of a Palestinian state and for disputes to be resolved peacefully. Artificial intelligence and health will also be on the agenda at the summit. Original members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. Analysts say that it has given the grouping more potential international punch. But it has also opened many new fault lines. Brazil hopes that countries can take a common stand at the summit, including on the most sensitive issues. "BRICS (countries), throughout their history, have managed to speak with one voice on major international issues, and there's no reason why that shouldn't be the case this time on the subject of the Middle East," Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told AFP.


Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE participates in 3rd BRICS Sherpa/Sous Sherpa Meeting
5 July 2025 22:44 RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (WAM)Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs and the UAE's BRICS Sherpa, participated in the 3rd BRICS Sherpa and Sous Sherpa meeting, held from June 30 to July 4, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, in preparation for the upcoming 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the meeting marked a key milestone in finalizing the Leaders' Declaration and advancing discussions on priority deliverables under Brazil's Hajeri expressed appreciation to the Brazilian chair for its significant leadership, and highlighted the UAE's constructive role in shaping outcomes that reflect the shared priorities of all BRICS reiterated the UAE's commitment to economic collaboration, and inclusive multilateralism across the core pillars of BRICS UAE also welcomed the adoption of three thematic outcome documents on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, Climate Finance, and the Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined UAE joined BRICS as a full member in January 2024. Its participation in the group aligns with the country's broader vision to promote international cooperation, advance sustainable development, and engage actively with emerging the UAE, BRICS provides a valuable platform for dialogue and policy coordination across regions. Through its membership, the UAE continues to advocate for balanced and inclusive solutions to global challenges, while reinforcing its position as a dynamic and open economy at the heart of the Global South.


Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Leaders Pivot as Iran's Pezeshkian Opts Out of Brazil Summit
Heads of government gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS summit on 6–7 July 2025, yet Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will not attend in person, opting to join virtually amid escalating regional tensions. This marks a notable shift in IRGC diplomatic strategy and signals Tehran's cautious engagement with the global bloc. Brazilian host Lula da Silva extended formal invitations to all member nations, including Iran. While China's Premier Li Qiang and Russia's Vladimir Putin will participate via video link, Pezeshkian will also engage remotely—an unexpected decision given Iran's elevated status within BRICS. Iran officially joined BRICS+ in 2024, alongside Egypt, UAE and Ethiopia, with Indonesia joining in early 2025. Analysts link Pezeshkian's decision to a confluence of geopolitical pressures. Tensions remain high following a twelve-day military exchange with Israel and mounting US threats targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Participation in Brazil from Tehran's leadership could be perceived domestically as a distraction from domestic security concerns, or internationally as signalling alignment in a bloc increasingly at odds with Western powers. ADVERTISEMENT Washington's mounting pressure complicates matters further. US officials stressed ongoing sanctions and warned of potential action if Iran expands its nuclear ambitions, placing Pezeshkian in a delicate balancing act ahead of the summit. Iran's decision to interrupt high‑level travel is also informed by recent intelligence assessments of US and Israeli strikes, which revealed substantial but not crippling damage to Iran's nuclear sites. Rio's summit theme, 'Inclusive and Sustainable Global South,' underscores Brazil's ambition to recast BRICS as an engine for financial innovation, de-dollarisation and climate diplomacy. Lula emphasised the urgency of crafting an alternative to the US dollar to reduce trade exposure to Western economic policies. Pezeshkian, a relative moderate successor to Ebrahim Raisi, has repeatedly portrayed BRICS as a critical platform to challenge global financial hegemony. In October 2024, he touted the group's potential to 'eclipse the US‑dominated unipolar world' and urged fellow members to leverage their influence to end conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. His foreign policy, shaped by visits to Iraq and attendance at the UN General Assembly, signals subtle reorientation. Tehran emphasises diplomacy over confrontation, while remaining tethered to the supreme authority of Ali Khamenei and Iran's military apparatus. Pezeshkian's remote participation means his input on BRICS' key agenda items—financial cooperation, energy markets, infrastructure investment, technological transfer—will be mediated through lower‑level delegates. On the one hand, this preserves Iran's influence without invoking domestic scrutiny; on the other, it may reduce Tehran's leverage in negotiations on currency diversification, cross‑bloc credit systems and tech partnerships. Geo‑strategic calculations also loom large. Analysed by Ryan Hass, a former US National Security Council China director, the picture of Xi Jinping and Putin opting for remote attendance adds interpretive layers. Xi may have aimed to avoid being eclipsed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the guest of honour, while Russia navigates legal hurdles tied to Putin's international warrant. For Iran, BRICS is a tool amid Western containment. Virtual presence ensures engagement while mitigating diplomatic risk. Pezeshkian's absence underscores Tehran's calculations—balancing international ambition with vulnerability to external pressures. Member nations will be watching closely. With a fragile consensus on de-dollarisation and climate finance, Iran's contributions could pivot key decisions. Even from afar, Pezeshkian faces the challenge of projecting leadership through digital channels, in a summit shaped as much by optics as by policy.