Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the “Youth for Sustainability” Forum will take place during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026. This event will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from January 13 to 15, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy as the main partner.
The annual forum aims to inspire and empower youth, equipping them to take on leadership roles through activities that enhance their contributions to sustainable development.
Its program includes high-level discussions, panel sessions featuring prominent experts, interactive dialogues, and platforms showcasing youth-led projects and innovations. Additionally, it will facilitate meetings to foster partnerships between young talents and industry leaders in the sustainability field.
On this occasion, Dr. Abdallah Hamid Al-Ghrouan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, stated: “Empowering the youth is a crucial foundation for ongoing progress and is essential for accelerating innovation within the energy and water sectors. Young people contribute to enhancing the efficiency and resilience of systems by leveraging advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. This is supported by an integrated framework combining digital capabilities, systematic thinking, and practical experience, helping convert ideas into impactful solutions and promoting a sustainable future aligned with the strategic goals of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
He emphasized that as the main partner of the “Youth for Sustainability” Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the Department of Energy is committed to supporting a platform that connects young leaders with innovators, decision-makers, and industry partners. This will encourage creative thinking and provide practical opportunities to develop policies and technologies, empowering the leadership of initiatives with lasting impacts. Investing in the talents and ideas of youth today is vital for creating a prosperous and sustainable future for Abu Dhabi.
Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), commented: “The forum connects young leaders with experiences, ideas, and practical visions, which helps turn aspirations into tangible outcomes. Moreover, it provides a supportive environment for building capabilities and mindsets, facilitating networking for youth to take on effective leadership roles and transition from ideas to impactful projects and initiatives that support sustainable development.”
The forum will focus on four main themes: the skills of the future and youth employment; artificial intelligence and sustainable innovation; quality of life and community resilience; and leadership behaviors and governance. These themes are designed to equip youth with the necessary skills and mindsets to build meaningful career paths and launch initiatives with positive impacts, with a particular emphasis on mastering artificial intelligence skills, enhancing sustainability awareness, and fostering entrepreneurial thinking.
Numerous ministers, senior officials, and executives from global and local companies, along with leading experts in the sustainability sector, will participate in the forum. Among the speakers are Her Excellency Dr. Amina Abdullah Al-Hamadi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al-Niyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Dr. Abdallah Hamid Al-Ghrouan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy; and Sheikh Dr. Majed Sultan Al Qasimi, Co-Founder and CEO of “Soma Mater”.
The “Youth for Sustainability” platform, launched by Masdar in 2016, serves as a global initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. It prepares and trains the youth to lead global efforts in adopting sustainability principles and offers diverse educational experiences designed to raise awareness of the skills needed for future jobs in the sustainability sector. This includes workshops, awareness campaigns, and training programs such as the “Future Sustainability Leaders” and “Sustainability Ambassadors” programs, which have seen over 980 young graduates and hosted more than 145 workshops and training sessions with 390 speakers from various sectors worldwide.