UAE government bodies must employ young Emiratis to their board, says Cabinet

The decision adopted by the UAE Cabinet aims to increase political participation among Emiratis under the age of 30

Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, overseeing a Cabinet meeting in 2018. Wam

At least one young Emirati must be on the board of directors for any government entity, the UAE Cabinet announced on Thursday.

The cabinet's decision aims to increase the participation of young Emiratis, under the age of 30, in government decisions.

In a statement, the UAE Government said the decision will ensure the voices and views of young Emiratis are considered and will inform all government work.

A deadline for when young Emiratis must be employed as board members was not disclosed.

Increasing the political participation of young Emiratis has been a priority for the UAE Government for several years.

In 2016, the UAE appointed its Shamma Al Mazrui as the Minister of State for Youth Affairs - a first for the country. Aged only 22, Ms Al Mazrui was the youngest minister in the world and was charged with representing youth issues and aspirations at Cabinet meetings.

The following year, Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for For Foreign Affairs, also told Emirati youth, at an open dialogue session to encourage political participation, that young people have the will, knowledge and culture to carry the vision of the country's leadership into the future.

In 2018, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, held the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations where he called on the nation's youth to carry the country to continued prosperity.

“We are confident in the role of the UAE’s ambitious youth, and we believe in their abilities to create the country’s present and future,” Sheikh Mohamed said at the time. “We always aim to qualify, motivate and empower them to take the nation’s flag and carry it to our supreme glory.”

And this week, thousands of students from across the Emirates attended the launch of a new forum aimed at encouraging greater political involvement among young people.

The initiative, called 'Political Empowerment in the UAE', hopes to persuade young people to take a more active role in helping shape the nation’s future.