Latest news with #YoungArabLeadersForum


Bahrain News Gazette
12-02-2025
- Business
- Bahrain News Gazette
Sheikh Hamdan Meets Arab Leaders at Young Arab Leaders Forum
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Honorary President of the Young Arab Leaders, received Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, along with several Arab leaders participating in the Young Arab Leaders Forum. The meeting took place as part of the World Government Summit 2025 in Dubai. According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa conveyed the greetings of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa emphasised the deep historical ties and strong relations between Bahrain and the UAE, highlighting the continuous progress in their cooperation across various sectors towards greater integration. He also commended the UAE's efforts in hosting the Young Arab Leaders Forum, the ninth Arab Public Finance Forum, and the World Government Summit 2025. He further emphasised the forum's role in developing youth leadership, enhancing their contributions across sectors, and equipping them with the necessary skills and tools for leadership. He expressed his best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the UAE.


Emirates 24/7
11-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Hamdan bin Mohammed attends first edition of Young Arab Leaders Forum ahead of WGS 2025
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), attended the first edition of the Young Arab Leaders Forum, held as part of the pre-event activities for the World Governments Summit 2025. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan reaffirmed the pivotal role of Arab youth in shaping the region's future, underscoring the importance of empowerment programmes, capacity-building, opportunities, and funding to unlock their full potential. He stressed that, with the right support, young Arab leaders can drive sustainable economic and social development across the region. 'Empowering youth is a top priority. The 'Young Arab Leaders' initiative, launched nearly two decades ago by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, aims to nurture a new generation of leaders equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to drive innovation and shape the future,' H.H. Sheikh Hamdan said. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan added: 'Hosting the Young Arab Leaders Forum in Dubai ahead of the World Governments Summit 2025, with the participation of over 200 officials, experts, and emerging Arab leaders, reflects our confidence in the capabilities of youth. We believe in their potential to advance strategic visions, shape future policies, and contribute to a more stable and prosperous future for their communities, nations, and the world.' The first edition of the event featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions on youth leadership, economic development, diplomacy, and innovation. Khalfan Belhoul, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 'Young Arab Leaders' initiative, delivered the opening speech, in which he highlighted Arab youth as the region's greatest asset. Belhoul identified five transformative sectors poised to shape the future for the next generation: artificial intelligence, the data economy, green technology, biotechnology and personalised medicine, and sustainable agriculture. These sectors hold the potential to reshape industries, address global challenges, and create new avenues for youth leadership and innovation, he added. Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Former Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, addressed the importance of preparing young leaders for modern challenges, stressing the need for resilience, adaptability, and critical thinking. He also discussed the role of media in youth empowerment, urging strategic engagement to amplify Arab voices on the global stage. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Finance and National Economy, explored the role of governments in integrating youth into the economy, emphasising the need for strong infrastructure, digitisation, and hands-on experience. He noted that today's Arab youth are better positioned for success than previous generations, due to sustained investments in education and healthcare. During a discussion on youth leadership and entrepreneurship, Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties, highlighted the importance of early action, hard work, and lifelong learning, while calling on governments to accelerate AI adoption to enhance economic resilience. In a separate session, Mohamad Ballout, CEO and Co-founder of Kitopi; Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner of Shorooq Investments; and Hosam Arab, CEO and Co-founder of Tabby, emphasised the value of flexibility, perseverance, and access to venture capital as key drivers of success. They also stressed the importance of scalable business models and sustainable growth strategies for long-term impact. Omar Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to the Holy See and Adviser to H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the role of youth leadership in Arab diplomacy and their contribution to global engagement and strengthening Arab representation. He attributed the UAE's diplomatic success to agility, resilience, and teamwork, emphasising the importance of efficient resource utilisation, strong government-society collaboration, and adaptability as key pillars of sustainable progress. Looking beyond business and governance, the Young Arab Leaders Forum also explored youth leadership in sports, arts, and culture. A session on Arab sports leadership featured Saudi football legend Sami Al-Jaber, the UAE's Ismail Matar, Iraq's Nashat Akram, and Oman's Ali Al-Habsi. The discussion highlighted the role of sports as a powerful platform for youth empowerment, leadership development, and regional collaboration, while also examining the economic and social impact of investing in young athletes. Another session on Arab leadership in arts and culture brought together Tunisian artist eL Seed, Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy, and Syrian celebrity chef Mohammad Orfali. The speakers explored the role of creative industries in fostering youth innovation, preserving Arab heritage, and positioning the region as a vibrant hub for cultural influence. The event concluded with a keynote by Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, who reflected on the strategic role of youth in shaping the Arab world's future. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


The National
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The National
The World Governments Summit has begun at just the right time
As the World Governments Summit begins today, it is worth reflecting on how often the UAE-hosted event has tackled challenges and assessed opportunities, producing thinking that is ahead of its time. From topics as diverse as artificial intelligence and mental health, as well as food security, climate change and citizens' happiness, for more than 10 years the Dubai forum has proved itself to be a valuable international meeting point, aimed at improved governance. What makes this annual summit a consistent fixture of the international calendar is how expansive its exchange of ideas is; few other forums can command a list of participants with such breadth of experience. More than 30 heads of state and government will attend, including the Presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Poland. They will be joined by more than 80 international organisations and about 6,000 individual experts. Any summit that can bring tech figures such as Google chief executive Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk together with important individuals like Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has more than proved its relevance. Those attending this week's summit are meeting at a critical time. The speed and profundity of recent developments – global and regional – require strong leadership, collaboration and innovative thinking. In the Middle East, new governments in Syria and Lebanon are taking shape as a tentative ceasefire holds in Gaza. In Washington, a new and very different America is being created; this promises to have far-reaching political, economic and security implications for the rest of the world. Indeed, many of the world's current talking points – global trade, government efficiency, the future of health care and international security – will be scrutinised and debated over the next three days in Dubai. Consensus is never guaranteed but bringing together people with different competencies and perspectives contributes to better understanding – and in today's fragmented world, this is a commodity that is often in short supply. This storm of change that is taking place makes it more important than ever to prepare the next generation of policymakers. Complementing the work of the WGS this week has been the first meeting of the Young Arab Leaders Forum that took place in Dubai on Monday. More than 200 emerging leaders took part, and there are plans to grow the event; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has said the initiative aims to attract 50,000 participants in the coming years. The UAE is an apt place for an ambitious project to develop leadership among the next generation. Consistent Arab Youth Survey results have revealed how many young people across the region see the Emirates' model as one that they aspire to. A forward-looking approach to policy and problem solving will be indispensable in the years to come, owing to the sheer number and scale of the challenges facing 21st-century humanity. This week's World Governments Summit is undoubtedly important for the present but also because it will set the tone for future convenings, with the summits of 2030 or 2035 also being ones to watch.


Gulf Business
10-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
World Governments Summit 2025 kicks off in Dubai
Image: WAM/ X The 'Shaping Future Governments' . Day Zero will feature a series of key forums, including the Arab Fiscal Forum, the Arab Meeting for Young Leaders, and the Young Arab Leaders Forum, with wide participation from prominent officials, visionaries, decision-makers, and a host of international organisations. World Governments Summit: More than 30 heads of state in the UAE The 12th edition of the World Governments Summit is seeing record international participation, with over 30 heads of state and government, more than 80 international and regional organisations, and global institutions, alongside 140 government delegations. The event will also host thought leaders and experts who will discuss major global trends in more than 200 interactive sessions featuring over 300 global speakers. Additionally, over 30 ministerial meetings and roundtables will take place, attended by more than 400 ministers. 21 Forums. One Vision. A better future for humanity requires meticulous planning. At the — World Governments Summit (@WorldGovSummit) Among the standout events on 'Day Zero' is the 9th Arab Fiscal Forum, jointly organised by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Ministry of Finance. This year's forum will focus on designing efficient and equitable fiscal policies to address debt vulnerabilities and future challenges amidst tighter financing constraints. Topics covered will include subsidy reforms, tax administration, and public sector enterprise reforms. The forum's opening session features speakers such as Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs in the UAE; Kristalina Georgieva, MD of the Other discussions at the forum, which will be attended by Arab ministers of finance and governors of central banks, will focus on macroeconomic developments, fiscal policy design in the face of mounting debt pressures, fiscal policy and climate resilience, and revamping tax systems for structural economic changes. Image: World Governments Summit Arab Meeting for Young Leaders Also on Day Zero is the Arab Meeting for Young Leaders, a collaborative platform for decision-makers and Arab youth. This meeting emphasizes youth engagement, with involvement at every stage, from preparation to participation. The meeting is hosted in collaboration with the Arab Youth Centre and supported by both local and regional governmental and non-governmental partners. Sessions at the meeting will explore topics such as the Arab Youth Competitiveness Index, The Vision of the League of Arab States, The Art of Etiquette: An Arab Perspective, The Last Drop of Oil: Seizing Opportunities, and Made in the Arab World. Additionally, the Young Arab Leaders Forum will take place on Day Zero, offering a dynamic platform to empower the next generation of Arab innovators and professionals. The forum focuses on fostering entrepreneurship, leadership, and professional growth through mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and insights from prominent Arab leaders. Topics include preparing young leaders for a new world, the economic state of the Arab world, and the role of young leaders in planning and management at senior leadership levels, with a focus on entrepreneurship, sports, arts, culture, and beyond.


Hi Dubai
10-02-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
World Governments Summit 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai with Record International Participation
Dubai is set to host the 12th edition of the World Governments Summit (WGS) from February 10 to 13, 2025, under the theme 'Shaping Future Governments.' Day Zero, which begins tomorrow, will feature a series of high-profile forums, including the Arab Fiscal Forum, the Arab Meeting for Young Leaders, and the Young Arab Leaders Forum. The summit is witnessing unprecedented global participation, with over 30 heads of state, 140 government delegations, 80 international and regional organizations, and more than 300 speakers set to participate in over 200 interactive sessions. Notably, 30 ministerial meetings and roundtables will be held, with over 400 ministers in attendance. The Arab Fiscal Forum, co-organized by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the UAE Ministry of Finance, will address key issues such as debt vulnerabilities, fiscal policy reforms, and climate resilience. The forum's opening session will feature notable speakers, including Mohamed Al Hussaini, Kristalina Georgieva, and Dr. Fahad Al Turki. The Arab Meeting for Young Leaders aims to empower Arab youth by fostering collaboration between decision-makers and young leaders. Hosted in partnership with the Arab Youth Centre, the meeting will tackle topics such as Arab youth competitiveness and the opportunities within the region. Additionally, the Young Arab Leaders Forum will focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and mentorship, preparing the next generation of Arab innovators for the future. Sessions will explore the role of young leaders in various sectors, including business, sports, and culture. WGS 2025 is set to provide a unique platform for shaping the future of governance and leadership in the Arab world and beyond. News Source: Emirates News Agency