UAE places youth at heart of development journey: Sultan Al Neyadi
- Last updated: August 23, 2026 | 12:03
Dr Sultan Bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Centre, participated on Saturday in the BRICS Youth Ministers meeting, hosted by the city of Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The meeting brought together ministers and youth affairs officials from member states to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation, exchange best practices and develop joint initiatives supporting young people.
During the meeting, Al Neyadi said, "The UAE has always regarded youth as a central pillar of its development journey through national policies and institutional initiatives that ensure their participation in decision-making and empower them with the skills and knowledge needed to lead the future."
He added that the UAE has developed an integrated ecosystem that strengthens young people's presence across various sectors and provides them with an environment that enables innovation and contribution to national development priorities, based on the firm belief that investing in youth is the most sustainable investment.
Al Neyadi said BRICS cooperation represents an important opportunity to strengthen international partnerships, exchange expertise and develop joint initiatives that respond to young people's aspirations and contribute to building more integrated systems for their empowerment.
He expressed the UAE's aspiration to continue working with member states to translate these visions into practical projects that support youth, strengthen their role in addressing challenges and help build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all societies.
Al Neyadi affirmed that the UAE's efforts to empower youth extend across the Arab region through the Arab Youth Centre, which works to develop young people's capabilities, expand opportunities available to them and build networks linking young talent across Arab countries.
He said the Centre implements regional programmes and initiatives in entrepreneurship, sustainability and climate action, technology and innovation, diplomacy, scientific research and community development, helping young people contribute more effectively to the development of their societies and keep pace with future transformations.
On the sidelines of the visit, Al Neyadi held bilateral meetings with Mansukh Mandaviya, India's Minister of Labour and Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports; Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency of South Africa for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; and Egor Litvinenko, Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Youth.
The meetings discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in youth empowerment, exchange expertise and experiences in developing youth programmes and initiatives, and explore new opportunities for cooperation to enhance young people's capabilities and expand their participation in priority sectors and future-oriented fields.
WAM