Arab Youth Center

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Arab Youth Center (also known as AYC) is a semi-government initiative by the United Arab Emirates to develop youth capabilities. The center's headquarter is located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It specialises in organising events, conducting research and development (R&D), producing forecasts on Arab Youth trends/thinking and devising strategic initiatives.^[1]

The Arab Youth Center was announced during the World Government Summit 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and President of AYC.^[2]

The center's key organisational leadership also includes Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Center, Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Center, and Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority and Chief Strategy Officer at AYC.^[3]

In February 2018, the Arab Youth Center HQ was made operational with a ceremony at IPIC Tower on Al Nahyan Street in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.^[4] The premises provide Arab youth with more than 20 creative spaces, as well as resources such as a library that stocks different publications in the fields of technology, business, science, literature and public speaking.^[5] Names attributed to the spaces are ‘inspired by famous cultural establishments of the Arab world throughout history.’ These include the meeting rooms Al Diwan, the Arab-artwork adorned Majlis, the House of Wisdom library and the mixed-use tech space – The Iwan. The venue has hosted more than 400 events including workshops, lectures and youth meetings.^[6] In addition, the center has permanent halls dedicated to its regional partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council Hall bears the name and identity of the GCC, serves as its executive HQ at AYC, and hosts youth programs, initiatives, workshops, seminars, conferences, discussion and trainings developed jointly by the two entities.^[7]

Global outreach[]

The Arab Youth Center supports the establishment of youth hubs in several Arab countries and has a constructive cooperation across the Arab League.

In Jordan, AYC and the Crown Prince Foundation have signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) to establish Jordan Youth Center as part of the UAE's Regional Youth Network.^[8] In Kuwait, AYC organised the Arab Youth Festival, in coordination with the Office for the Kuwait Ministry of State of Youth Affairs and the Public Authority for Youth.^[9] The Arab Youth Center also works with many high-profile partners including, but not limited to, CNBC, Thomson Reuters, CNN, Facebook, Google, Twitter, YouTube and the MBC Group.^[10]

Initiatives[]

Initiatives from the Arab Youth Center focus on 6 key areas, namely: entrepreneurship, professional and personal development, creativity (arts culture), research and development, youth development and integration, and public service.^[11]

Arab youth technology fellowship[]

In October 2020, AYC launched an initiative in the Arab region – in partnership with global technology institutions and platforms – to empower Arab youth in the sectors of technology, innovation, knowledge achievement and the digital economy.^[12] The programme features four strategic paths including: digital transformation, interactive technologies, information and communications technology, and innovation and emerging technologies.^[13]

Arab youth startup marketplace[]

An initiative to bring together Arab startups and entrepreneurs to showcase their ventures, exchange knowledge with like-minded professionals and industry leaders, and ultimately helping them with their growth.^[14] At the second marketplace in 2019, where 103 start-ups exhibited, more than 10 finance and investment deals and partnerships were struck between young Arab entrepreneurs and investors.^[15]

Arab youth hackathon[]

In 2020, the Arab Youth Center announced the launch of its Arab Youth Hackathon, under the theme ‘Youth's role in times of crises.’ The hackathon consisted of six challenges spanning six vital domains including education, economics, food security, social responsibility, healthcare and employment.^[16] The Crown Prince Foundation of Jordan was announced as the hackathon's regional strategic partner, with the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Egypt, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Bahrain, and the Youth Public Authority in Kuwait – implemented in cooperation with Accenture, the Arab Youth Hackathon's innovation partner.^[17]

Young Arab media leaders program[]

It is an ‘intensive skills development programme’ to partner Arab youth with prominent media organisations and experts.^[18] Each cycle of the programme takes 100 young Arab media leaders from the Arab world and equip them with industry skills to create a positive media ecosystem.^[19][20]

Youth development delegates in the Arab region[]

A prestigious job-placement programme that is run in cooperation with the United Nations. The initiative aims to familiarise young Arabs with the operational framework of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), equipping them with the necessary skills set through active participation.^[21]

The programme places 11 youth as delegates in 10 UNDP country offices and the Regional Hub across Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Somalia and Tunisia. They are tasked to work on projects specialising in youth development with a focus on the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP).^[22]

Young Arab pioneers[]

A celebration of the remarkable achievements of young Arabs, who serve as role models for the new generation, motivating the next generation to pursue the entrepreneurship path.^[23]

Youth pitches[]

A competition based on a ‘By youth for youth’ principle, providing the youth with the opportunity to showcase their ideas and solutions in front of key decision makers.^[24]

Arab youth opportunities[]

An online portal that seeks to assist young Arabs in their personal and professional development, by providing them with a comprehensive overview of the diverse career and internship opportunities available in their home country. The opportunities include scholarships, Development Programs, training workshops, incubators and events that enable them to interact with their community and benefit from vocational trainings, along with awards and competitions. The platform features these opportunities around 21 countries and users can also submit new opportunities.^[25]

Arab youth research[]

An online research portal that includes researches from Arab youth. It is considered the largest free, open-to-all platform of its kind in the Arab world.^[26] The research paper accepted by the platform includes graduation thesis (Masters and PhD), published research papers and distinguished bachelor's research papers (those are accepted through university nominations only).^[27][28]

Events[]

A key pillar of the Arab Youth Center is to organise events, forums, conferences and workshops pertaining to Arab youth matters. These are hosted inside the UAE, as well as across the Arab region – such as the 2018 ‘Youth Circles about the Future of Investment’ held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,^[29] the 2018 Arab Youth Festival hosted by Kuwait,^[30] and the 2019 edition of ‘Youth Pitches: Empowering women in the workplace’, held in Jordan.^[31]

Arab youth forum[]

This is a three-day event that brings together young Arab minds to discuss their innovative and problem-solving ideas to create a better future. Sessions cover various topics and sectors including health and safety, knowledge and education, the environment, identity, entrepreneurship, giving, culture, values, media and opportunities.^[32]

Arab youth priorities conference[]

Organised by AYC in the United Arab Emirates under the auspices of the Arab League – and with the participation of the United Nations^[33] – the virtual conference served as a platform to announce results of the Arab Youth Priorities Survey’, conducted by the Arab Youth Center with the aid of 7,000 young participants from 21 Arab countries. The survey used a quantitative methodology based on online questionnaires and personal interviews in Arabic, while the sample was randomly selected to represent Arab youth in the target age group.^[34][35][36]

Research & studies[]

The Arab Youth Center has issued a number of studies and reports based on data collated from Arab Youth, to guide discussions and develop youth-focused programmes.^[37]

100 questions[]

A short report collecting key facts about Arab youth, answering 100 questions that concern youth across themes such as education, employment, sources of income, sports, health and youth participation in society.^[38]

The ‘Arab youth and sustainability report’[]

A document produced in partnership with the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This annual assessment of prominent youth initiatives was presented in three sections: case studies from Arab youth across the region, outlining their role supporting implementation; the introduction of innovative young leaders who are contributing to achieving SDGs; spotlighting 14 initiatives developed and implemented by Arab youth in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE, Palestine, Oman, Syria and Sudan, towards realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.^[39]

Arab youth priority survey[]

It was conducted to determine the top-most priorities for Arab Youth – with almost 7,000 young Arab (between 15 and 34 years old) from 21 Arab countries.^[40]

Technology fellowship white paper[]

A paper produced in collaboration with Accenture, to ‘provide data and research that indicates the importance of the field of technology and the need to qualify the capabilities of Arab Youth to bridge the technical skills gap not only at the global level, but also at the regional level.^[41][42]

Arab youth facts platform[]

An interactive platform with the intention to ‘provide developmental, research information to identify key trends impacting youth in the Arab world.’ It provides youth strategy developers, Arab youth empowerment institutions and entities focused on shaping future opportunities with accurate facts and data. Its 1,000 Questions is an evolution of the 100 Questions short report.

References[]