President Sheikh Mohamed has praised the nation's young people on World Youth Skills Day. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed has praised the nation's young people on World Youth Skills Day. Photo: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed says young people are the UAE's strength


The National

President Sheikh Mohamed said youth represented the strength, wealth and ambition of the UAE.

Sheikh Mohamed wrote on social media platform X about the important role young people play in society.

His comments came on World Youth Skills Day, which is marked around the globe today.

The occasion aims to “celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship”.

“On World Youth Skills Day, we reaffirm that empowering our youth, investing in them, and equipping them with skills for the future is an essential pillar of the UAE’s development vision,” Sheikh Mohamed said.

“Youth are the strength, energy, ambition, and wealth of our nation.

“As the leaders of tomorrow, they will be at the heart of our ongoing progress and must be enabled to contribute effectively to the UAE’s future development and prosperity.”

Emirati astronaut Dr Sultan Al Neyadi, who now serves as Minister of State for Youth Affairs, responded to the post from Sheikh Mohamed.

"We have learnt from Your Highness that building the future starts with empowering the people," Dr Al Neyadi said on X.

"We remain dedicated to working tirelessly with Emirati youth to fulfil your vision, ensuring the Emirati success story thrives across generations."

Youth programmes

This month, the UAE launched a scheme to encourage Emirati youth to marry.

The Emirati Family Growth Programme was announced by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, “to enhance family stability and reinforce community cohesion”.

Emiratis taking part can receive financial loans, rent assistance for up to four years and housing loan deductions after the births of their fourth, fifth and sixth child.

It is also possible to extend their maternity leave to 90 days and have their housing loan repayments extended – which also starts from the births of their fourth, fifth and sixth child.

A home visit service is also available to aid new parents during their first weeks.

A group of young people from the UAE are currently taking part in the Future Leaders Empowerment Programme, currently being held in Singapore.

Along with young people from other nations, they are participating in the two-week course on enhancing self-confidence, fostering essential leadership qualities, and equipping participants with the knowledge necessary to pursue their ambitions, state news agency Wam reported.

The programme will see young participants visiting institutions, academies and factories in Singapore with lectures and sessions taking place to help develop skills.

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The biog

Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children

She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career

She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence

Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

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Company: Eco Way
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Company name: Klipit

Started: 2022

Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain

Funding: $4 million

Investors: Privately/self-funded

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Company name: Leap
Started: March 2021
Founders: Ziad Toqan and Jamil Khammu
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Funds raised: Undisclosed
Current number of staff: Seven

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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

The biog

Favourite film: The Notebook  

Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey

Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela.           Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands

Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends

Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl

Updated: July 15, 2024, 12:28 PM