Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, will address over 1,000 young people from across the GCC about the unlimited opportunities available to them and the important role they have to play in shaping the future of the region.

Expo 2020 Dubai has announced that the UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs will join Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General Bureau Expo 2020 Dubai, on 19th November as part of a line-up of inspiring speakers at YouthConnect, Expo 2020 Dubai’s flagship youth engagement programme.

"The youth of our country are a top priority for the UAE Government," Shamma Al Mazrouei said. "Through the recently announced National Youth Agenda, and youth focused initiatives, we aim to provide young people with the opportunities that will help cultivate their skills and empower them to unleash their full potential. Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and YouthConnect is a valuable platform to engage with them and listen to the new ideas and solutions they have for our region."

Reem Al Hashemi said, "We believe that we can offer our young guests from across the GCC a wonderful experience at this year’s YouthConnect. We have consistently affirmed our commitment to placing youth at the heart of our plans and aspirations for Expo 2020 Dubai and YouthConnect is a powerful platform for us to do this. It offers a valuable opportunity for them to understand the unlimited ways in which they can connect with the mega-event, either as volunteers, visitors or participants. We want our young people to take ownership of Expo 2020 Dubai and join us in welcoming 25 million visitors from around the world."

Open to young people between the ages of 16 and 25 from across the GCC region, YouthConnect 2016 includes a number of inspiring conversations with local and international thought leaders, including Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Omran Sharaf, Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Jihad Kawas, the 19 year old Founder and CEO of Saily Inc.

There will be a series of interactive workshops with entities such as the Hamdan International Photography Award and Bayt.com, and more intimate and informal Discussion Corners, with people such as filmmaker Ali Mostafa and social media influencer Faisal Sheraiff sharing their personal stories and tips for success. Young people will also learn about Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, and explore the relevance and scope of the three subthemes, Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

This year, YouthConnect will also introduce the Expo 2020 Youth Lab, where participants will have the opportunity to explore a number of areas related to Expo 2020 Dubai and directly contribute their ideas and insights.