DUBAI // Emirati youths should be more aware about their passions and develop skills to reach their potential, participants in the first Emirates Youth Council (EYC) dialogue session heard.
The EYC organised the Youth Circles meeting in Dubai on Wednesday, the first in a series of nationwide talks aimed at engaging youth in decision making and problem solving.
More than 100 people aged 15 to 35 took part in the session, which was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shamma Al Mazrui, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
Ahmed Rashid, 23, said the country’s youth should learn skills to cope with the fast-moving world.
“Emiratis should develop more critical thinking and more personal initiatives,” he said.
“We don’t want them thinking about government jobs, we need more entrepreneurs, who are not afraid of taking risks.”
Saud Karmustaji said entrepreneurs needed new ideas.
“We hear a lot of people are entrepreneurs,” the 26-year-old said. “However, they usually picked up an idea from the West and copied it. We need to think outside the box and develop our skills to innovate instead of copy.”
The youngest participant, Fatima Al Kaabi, 15, said pupils need mentors to “come to our schools and inspire us to work hard and explore our options from an early age”.
The session was the first step in connecting with the government, said Iman Istadi, an Adnoc employee from Abu Dhabi.
“It was a beautiful setting,” said the 27-year-old. “We talked about our thoughts and problems and they will take our recommendations into account.”
The next EYC dialogue session is expected to be held in Abu Dhabi.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
