Youths come together in UAQ to discuss their innovative ideas for the country

Organised by UAQ Youth Council the gathering aimed to get young people’s opinions on matters that affect them, said Kaltham Tahnon, an Emirati member of Emirates Youth Council and chair at UAQ Youth Council.

UMM AL QUWAIN // Fifty Emirati and expatriate youngsters from all seven emirates have presented their ideas in a gathering at Falaj Al Mualla Fort.

The summit gathered young people’s opinions on matters that affect them, said Kaltham Tahnon, a member of Emirates Youth Council and chair at UAQ Youth Council, which organised the meeting.

“The event was divided into two parts. The first one was specialised for youngsters and was a brainstorming session,” Ms Tahnon said.

“They discussed among each other their ideas, opinions and suggestions regarding industry, economy, investment, tourism, environment, sports, healthy life, heritage, antiquities and voluntary work

“In the second part, the youths sat with government entity directors as well as officials from federal organisations to discuss with them their ideas.

“If their ideas can be used and applied in developing the emirate and other emirates, they will be presented to the competent authorities.”

Mohammed Al Jalaf, an Emirati industrial engineering and engineering management graduate, travelled from Ras Al Khaimah to offer his ideas on volunteering.

“I was a volunteer for four years at university as well as outside the campus,” said Mr Al Jalaf, 21. “I came here to talk about the right meaning of volunteering as we do voluntary work to change the community for the better.

“We talked about investing the youth’s energy in volunteering and we discussed the idea of combining voluntary with charitable work.”

Mariam Al Ali, a safety engineer from UAQ, talked about developing industry and the economy in her emirate.

“We presented an idea about having an industrial innovation centre in the emirate, where youngsters who have an innovative idea can go to help turn it into a product for market,” said Ms Al Ali, 26.

She said UAQ was in need of a transport network incorporating a metro and buses, which would help residents and provide jobs.

Abdullah Al Buraiki, a customer services employee from UAQ, had ideas for investment and tourism.

“To attract investors to UAQ, the emirate’s youngsters should start establishing projects for investment and tourism by using the natural materials found in the emirate, such as the sea, fish and open sandy areas,” Mr Al Buraiki, 21.

“On the beach, we can open five-star hotels and seafood restaurants and the sandy areas can be used to establish museums that attract tourists to come and look at the emirate’s heritage.”

The gathering was staged in coordination with UAQ’s Executive Council and Heritage and Antiquities Department.