Sheikh Hamdan: “Young people are the driving force behind our nation’s progress, fuelling its development and innovation”
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, introduced the ‘71 Challenge for Young Government Leaders’ during a gathering with young officials at the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024 held in Abu Dhabi.
This initiative aims to empower and engage emerging government leaders, unlocking their full potential and fostering a community of future leaders. By nurturing exceptional young talent, the challenge prepares them for significant leadership roles, thereby directly contributing to the UAE’s visionary future.
Upskilling
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that the initiation of the ‘71 Challenge for Young Government Leaders’ aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, as well as Ruler of Dubai. This initiative underscores the importance of preparing and empowering a remarkable generation of young government leaders while enhancing their readiness for leadership.
He noted that young people are the catalyst of the nation’s progress, driving development and fostering innovation. He stated that their energy is vital to achieving the future vision and enhancing the UAE’s standing on the global stage. The ’71 Challenge’ is seen as a means to empower the youth of the UAE by refining their leadership skills and nurturing their creativity, enabling them to become key contributors to national development.
Read more: Sheikh Hamdan reviews RTA’s $4.35 billion 2024-2027 Main Roads Development Plan
Practical solutions
The challenge, managed by the UAE Government Leaders Program along with the Government Development and the Future Office, is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of young professionals. It encourages them to address challenges with innovative strategies and practical solutions, thereby improving the UAE’s preparedness for a highly competitive future and advancing its national objectives across crucial sectors.
A selected group of 45 young government leaders from both federal and local entities will participate in ‘Challenge 71’. They will work on developing eight specialized government projects under expert guidance. Moreover, after a thorough evaluation, the most impactful projects will be chosen, and outstanding leaders will be acknowledged for their contributions to the winning initiatives.
Spanning six months, the challenge will focus on eight strategic pillars: family, community solidarity and national identity; education and advanced technology; digital transformation and Emirati innovation; entrepreneurship; economic productivity with Emirati talent; digital economy and talent attraction; sports excellence; and new media and global influence.
Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, UAE minister of State for Government Development and the Future, remarked that the ‘71 Challenge for Young Government Leaders’ reflects the UAE leadership’s vision of fostering a new generation capable of steering future transformations and adeptly navigating rapid changes in priority sectors.
HE Al Roumi further added that investing in national teams imbued with the Emirati spirit of challenge and determination, inspired by the founding fathers, ensures the UAE’s readiness for the future by cultivating young leaders who surpass expectations. Additionally, she highlighted that this challenge enhances leadership capabilities, equipping young professionals with innovative methods to tackle challenges and strengthen the UAE’s competitiveness in fulfilling its national objectives.
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