The Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, Misk, is hosting what it calls the Youth Majlis as it returns to Davos for a fifth year at the World Economic Forum.
The Majlis — a place where people gather to sit together — aims to provide a forum for “forward-looking” dialogue and to be a melting pot for collaborative solutions to critical global issues.
Those include fighting inequality with inclusive economic growth and boosting climate action, in line with WEF global perspectives in Davos.
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Lawrence Summers, president emeritus and professor at Harvard University, speaks during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Bloomberg -
Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Tanzanian President Samia Hassan during a panel discussion in Davos. AP -
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola speaks at the forum. AP -
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks to CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Iranian-American journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad takes part in an interview with a TV news channel in Davos. AFP -
Mr Mitsotakis is seen on a TV camera viewfinder at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Faisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia's Economy and Planning Minister, speaks during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg -
Climate activist Greta Thunberg addresses journalists in Davos. Reuters -
Mary Erdoes, chief executive of JP Morgan Chase's asset wealth management arm, listens during a panel session in Davos. Bloomberg -
Officials take part in the World Economic Forum's Busting Business Barriers session. Photo: World Economic Forum -
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, is among the senior officials in Davos. Photo: WEF -
Former US vice president Al Gore, who is also a member of board of trustees of the forum, at a session titled Leading the Charge through Earth's New Normal. Photo: WEF -
Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs at the event. Photo: WEF -
Deemah Al Yahya, secretary general of the Digital Co-operation Organisation in Saudi Arabia, at the forum's Turning Technologies into the Markets of Tomorrow session. Photo: WEF -
US climate change envoy John Kerry at the Keeping the Pace on Climate session. Photo: WEF -
Shoes worn by Rodrigo Oliveira, founder of Brazilian group Green Mining, emphasise support for environmental initiatives. Photo: WEF -
Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor in Chief of The National, moderates a session on the Middle East that featured Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: WEF -
Officials and delegates take part in the Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? session. Photo: WEF -
Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks at the Restoring Security and Peace session. Photo: WEF -
Mr Duda, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Yuliia Svyrydenko, first deputy prime minister in Ukraine, and US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines attend a session hosted by broadcaster Fareed Zakaria. Photo: WEF -
Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, watches as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the forum. Photo: WEF -
Mohamad Al Ississ, Jordan's Minister of Finance, takes part in the session titled The Middle East: Meeting Point or Battleground? Photo: WEF -
Mr Zelenskyy gives a video address to the forum in Davos. AFP -
Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger appears on screen during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos. AP -
US governors Brian Kemp and JB Pritzker, senators Chris Coons, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and representatives Maria Salazar and Mikie Sherrill take part in a panel discussion at Davos. AP -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends a session in Davos. AFP -
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and Patrice Motsepe, billionaire founder of African Rainbow Minerals, arrive at the forum's venue in Davos. EPA -
Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, right, is interviewed by Fareed Zakaria in Davos. AP -
Delegates visit the refreshments area between sessions in Davos. Bloomberg -
Singer Angelique Kidjo performs in Davos. EPA -
From left, WEF founder Klaus Schwab, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and Swiss President Alain Berset pose together during the 53rd annual meeting of the forum in Davos. EPA -
Ms Zelenska hit out at Russia and said 'we cannot allow a new Chernobyl to happen'. AFP -
Mr Berset addresses delegates in Davos. EPA -
Ms von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc would become much more forceful in countering unfair trading practices. Reuters -
Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines, arrives to attend a session in Davos. AP -
Former US vice president Al Gore is expected to discuss decarbonisation, as well as efforts to build clean energy infrastructure and ensure equitable growth. EPA -
From second left, WEF president Borge Brende, Carbon Direct vice chairwoman Nili Gilbert and US climate envoy John Kerry with other delegates in Davos. EPA -
Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann speaks during the 53rd WEF Annual Meeting. EPA -
DP World chief executive Sultan bin Sulayem in Davos. Bloomberg -
UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers speaks during a television interview on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
From left, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd chairwoman Laura Cha, Banco de Portugal Governor Mario Centeno, Bloomberg TV anchor Francine Lacqua, Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann and S&P Global president and chief executive Douglas Peterson during a panel session on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
Mr Kerry delivers a speech at the Congress Centre in Davos. AFP -
Musicians take part in a concert during the official opening of the forum. Photo: WEF -
Jordanian vocalist Farah Siraj, centre, and Egyptian-Australian multi-instrumentalist Joseph Tawadros, left, perform during the I Sea You concert. Photo: WEF -
Tawadros is one of the world's leading oud performers and composers. Photo: WEF -
WEF managing director Alois Zwinggi speaks during a session called 'In Harmony with Nature'. Photo: WEF -
Gail Whiteman, left, a professor of sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School, speaks during the 'In Harmony with Nature' panel discussion. Photo: WEF -
Mr Schwab delivers a speech during the 'Crystal Award' ceremony in Davos. AFP -
Actor Idris Elba, right, and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, left, smile on the podium during the Crystal Award ceremony. AP -
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko attends the Crystal Award ceremony. EPA -
Singer Renee Fleming, right, receives a Crystal Award from Hilde Schwab, wife of WEF founder Klaus Schwab. AP -
Delegates at the welcome reception before the official start of the forum. Bloomberg -
Food for attendees at the welcome reception. Bloomberg -
A kiosk serving hot chocolate from the UAE at the forum. Bloomberg -
The Infosys pavilion at the forum. Bloomberg -
Ukraine's pavilion in Davos. Reuters -
Swiss police officers on patrol in Davos. Reuters -
From left, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck with Swiss ministers Guy Parmelin and Albert Roesti before the start of a bilateral meeting in Davos. EPA -
A delegate passes a digital display in Davos. Bloomberg
“Our Youth Majlis at the World Economic Forum builds on the momentum established during the Misk Global Forum 2022 when we set out to promote global multi-generational dialogue,” Amani Alkhiami, senior research manager at Misk in Davos, told The National.
More than 35 global leaders and decision-makers from the US, China, Singapore, South Africa, India, Egypt, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are gathering at the Youth Majlis to promote a youth-focused approach to global collaboration, Misk officials say.
Ms Alkhiami said: “From the green economy to mental well-being, we want to inspire a new generation of leaders. The Youth Majlis creates a platform to do this under the theme of Generation Transformation. It’s an immersive, collaborative space where we serve as a convener and interlocutor connecting the dots between younger and older generations, empowering young people to shape the future.”
The youth forum brings together a diverse range of speakers including Shoukei Matsumoto, managing director of the Japan Fellowship of Buddhists, himself a Buddhist monk, and Arunabha Ghosh, a leading expert on climate and energy. Roman Smolynets, a 24-year-old doctor and influencer from Lviv, Ukraine, will also be speaking, as well as Tariq Al Olaimy, a climate activist and economist.
The chief executive of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Fahd Al Rasheed, spoke at the Majlis and said he believes cities are ultimately about bringing people together.
“If I believe, as a young person or old person that I can come there, and be who I need to be, because of education, job opportunities and yes, because of other people, who are doing the same — that is the ultimate power of cities. They bring us together, make us better and that's what I think Riyadh has been doing,” he said.
Anyone is free to join the live sessions with Misk speakers through their YouTube live-stream.
“In a world that is becoming increasingly fragmented, it’s more important than ever to find ways to co-operate, work together and harness the power of youth. Our decision to bring the Youth Majlis back to the World Economic Forum is a powerful step in this direction, placing young people at the heart of the global conversation and empowering them to take bold action for a better future,” said Omar Najjar, chief programme officer at the Misk Foundation.
Last year more than 1,700 visitors from 42 countries, 14 heads of state and ministers, 200 VIP guests and 25 speakers at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting attended the Youth Majlis.
Last year, Misk launched its sixth edition of the Misk Global Forum, welcoming more than 28,000 participants from 64 countries.
So far more than 280 students have graduated from the Misk Fellowship programme to work on 40 projects dedicated to solving challenges associated with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman established Misk in 2011. It is a non-profit organisation devoted to cultivating and empowering young people with the tools of learning and leadership for a “better future in Saudi Arabia.”
