Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi based investment and development company, today hosted its third annual Youth Forum. The event attracted Emirati students and business leaders along with education and youth empowerment advocates from across the nation encouraging a dialogue about the exciting fields and career paths available in the UAE.

Under the theme “Our Future, Your Ambition”, the Forum provided students with an opportunity to hear from leading Emirati figures across a range of professions. The initiative is an integral component of Weyana, Mubadala’s Youth Platform, which aims to prepare today’s youth for the vital role they will play in the United Arab Emirates’ economic and social development. 

The event opened with the screening of ‘Abu Dhabi Across Generations,’ a documentary that highlights the fundamental role of education in developing professions, communities and civilizations through a series of personal and inspiring stories. The film was commissioned by Mubadala in collaboration with the National Center for Documentation and Research, Abu Dhabi Media, and Abu Dhabi Al Emarat TV channel. 

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala, delivered opening remarks focusing on the development of Emirati talent and referencing role models from within the Mubadala group of companies who have embraced local and international roles in cutting-edge sectors.

In his opening speech, ‘Reach Out: The Future is in Your Hands,’ Khaled Al Qubaisi, Executive Director, Human Capital, Mubadala, said “economic diversification has created a vast range of opportunities. Those opportunities will be given to those who demonstrate a drive to deliver.”

He was followed by the first panel of the day on the topic of Emiratis working across the globe. Hosting Emirati role models in various fields including history, research, commerce, political studies, media and engineering, the session focused the importance of international education and work experience and the impact they have on one’s mindset. 

During the second panel discussion, panellists from Zayed University, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development, Emirates Nationals Development Program, Asteco and Seven Tides and the Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation discussed the approach students should adopt when building their career roadmap. They highlighted that a thirst for knowledge, expert advice and networking play a major role in career development. 

Commenting on the additions to this year’s Youth Forum, Mubadala’s Head of Social Development and Sponsorship, Amina Taher said: “It has been fantastic to see this event develop and grow. We are pleased with the response the LinkedIn and Weyana stations received. Our aim was to extend the benefit of the event beyond the insights the speakers provide during each session. The stations helped us provide direction on how to use digital networking tools and help students understand the impact such tools have on career choices.”

Those unable to attend followed the event through the hashtag #YouthForum and live streaming on www.weyana.ae. Highlights of the event will also be shown on Weyana’s YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/weyanauae.