Fourteen Emiratis make up Fujairah’s first youth council

The youth council consists of seven males and seven females and will be coordinated by Emirates Youth Council member Shoroq Al Danhani, though it is not yet decided where and how frequently they will meet.

Dr Sultan Al Shrief plans to reach out to youn people through the council to help them develop themselves. Pawan Singh / The National

FUJAIRAH // Fourteen Emiratis have formed Fujairah’s first youth council following a Government drive to set one up in each emirate.

The Emirates Youth Council and emirate branches were established on the orders of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who wanted to be able to listen to the voice of youth and involve young people in the country’s 2021 plan.

The youth council consists of seven males and seven females and will be coordinated by Emirates Youth Council member Shoroq Al Danhani. The venue for and frequency of meetings is yet to be decided.

› Meet some of the young Emiratis who formed Fujairah's first youth council

One Fujairah council member said she believed youth should have a voice and that she was delighted by her appointment.

“I received the news [after] one of my friends sent me a link of the names. My family had faith in me and were very proud,” said Maryam Al Kaabi, 23.

She obtained her BA degree in mechanical engineering at United Arab Emirates University while also working as a teacher and research assistant there, before she continued her education on a 3-D printing project at Vaasa University of Applied Science, in Finland.

“I believe in the power of youth, and my goal is to provide them with the necessary training and tools to participate in the growth of the nation,” Ms Al Kaabi said.

Members are nominated by the executive council of each emirate and are chosen by the Emirates Youth Council, with seven male and seven female members selected for each.

Members must be less than 30 years old and should be studying at university or working in the area they serve.

Fujairah member Sindiya Saad, 26, said: “Many young people here have their own vision and ideas of the future that would definitely add to the country, and one of my main goals is to provide them with the tools and opportunity to [allow them to] become entrepreneurs and contribute to society,”

Ms Saad works as a marketing and PR executive at Gulf Petrochem, after gaining a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Higher Colleges of Technology in 2013.

Her entrepreneurial side led her to her establish the first business listings directory platform for Fujairah and the east coast. Named Fujtown.com, it also promoted the area and was involved in organising social events in the emirate.

Dr Sultan Al Shrief planned to reach out to young people through the council to help them develop themselves.

“Being one of the Fujariah Youth Council members is considered a huge privilege to me and an opportunity to take part in achieving the country’s strategy,” said the 28-year-old dentist. “I believe the first step is to form a way of connecting with young Emiratis to see their preferences, to develop their abilities through a survey to be distributed in schools and universities and by also using social media platforms.

Dr Al Shrief obtained a BA degree as a dentist from Ajman University of Science and Technology and is completing his masters degree in dental surgery. He has also helped to ­organise scientific conferences in Fujairah.

The Fujairah Youth Council was set up by Al Diwan Al Amiri in Fujairah and the Emirates Youth Council.