Since the UAE's inception, the leadership's vision has focused on engaging youth, investing in their energies, and creating exceptional opportunities to meet the needs and aspirations of young people, providing them with opportunities and empowering them in various fields, for they constitute the real wealth of this nation, embody the foundations for its future and enhance its stature as a pioneering nation. At the beginning of year 1972, the UAE appointed the late Khalifa Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al Mubarak as UAE Ambassador to the sisterly Republic of Sudan. The then 26-year-old diplomat was UAE's first young ambassador. The UAE has set the tone by appointing Emirati youth to leading diplomatic positions and political files, and be the face of our beloved country abroad.

To mark a qualitative leap of a transformative nature for modern diplomacy, there is a need to adopt a new model that supports the involvement of young people, allowing them to reach their potential and increases their contribution to a strong UAE foreign policy, as the youth represents half of the staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This called for a dedicated dynamic space/platform that brings together youth with relevant policy makers, decision-makers and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, information and experiences, explore innovative solutions and promote dialogue and synergies. The decision of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 2018, to form the MOFAIC Youth Council translated this vision with the aim of empowering and activating the role of youth and motivating creativity, innovation and active participation in strengthening Emirati diplomacy. Since its inception, the Youth Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation adopted the slogan "Diplomacy of the Future, Ambition and Hope". Its vision aims to prepare a promising generation of innovative young diplomats who contribute to the promotion of the UAE's foreign policy, have a competitive spirit and adhere to the authenticity of Emirati values.

A diplomat's effectiveness stems from his/her ability to take the initiative, interact and participate positively in discussions, presenting his/her country's point of view and position based on objective foundations, armed with cumulative experiences gained through practice and practical experiences, and the fact that young people are one of the soft power axes in modern diplomacy. Young diplomats created an innovative path that contributed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral international relations and partnerships. Their participation internationally sent a strong message to the world about the principles of tolerance, building bridges of communication between different peoples and fostering exchange of experiences between countries, based on the transfer of best practices and the experiences of the UAE in various fields. This led to the development of new practices that meet the needs of the times and are in line with changes humankind faces, and contribute to achieving the common goals of sustainable development.

Nowadays, young diplomats can initiate positive change and contribute to reopening channels of cooperation and communication between countries in the post-pandemic world, by taking advantage of strongly emerging branches of diplomacy such as young diplomacy. It is worth mentioning that joint programs and initiatives between the UAE youth and youth in various partner countries have been designed with a focus on common goals that unite us with them, and this is what the soft power policy has fostered: the quest for similar directions, building on these axes and strengthening them. The partnership with the Diplomatic Youth Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, as an example, revolved around the passion and keenness of a successful diplomat to clearly convey the message and vision of his/her country, appreciate, respect all other human societies and build bridges with them, and look forward to the future with optimism. The young diplomat addresses people in their own language and in a manner that brings him closer to them.

During its 2021-2022 term, the council announced its new strategy, one aligned with the UAE's principles of the 50. It will thus work on initiatives and programs within the frameworks of the values of loyalty and sincerity, excellence, competitiveness, leadership, proactivity, adopting change, raising awareness, seizing opportunities, and tolerance. As for the four axes that the council will focus on during the coming period, they encompass developing youth competencies, international responsibility towards youth, knowledge, and enhancing the quality of life.

Ms. Eman Hableel

Head of the MoFAIC Youth Council