Wanted: Young minister below 25 in UAE government

Dubai - The VP announced on Twitter that he wanted an under 25 graduate to represent the youth in the government.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has called for a young Emirati to represent the country's youth as a cabinet minister. In a series of tweets, Shaikh Mo-hammed asked that universities nominate men and women under the age of 25 for the position. "I would like to choose a young person under the age of 25 to represent our youth, their issues and ambitions as a UAE government minister," he tweeted. Shaikh Mohammed noted that the large number of young people in the Arab World means that they deserve representation in the decision-making process.
"Youth have hopes and dreams, issues and challenges; they are the reason why societies prosper or fail. They are our hope for the future," he said. "Youth represents some half of our Arab societies, so it is only logical to give them a voice and role in governing the nation."
Also read: We must prepare our youth for the future, says Shaikh Mohammed
 "Our young country was built by the hands and achievements of youth. Youth is our strength and speed and is our treasure for the future," he added. The decision quickly became a hot topic on social media, and rapidly topped the UAE's 'trending' list. Shaikh Mohammed is well-known for his support of the UAE's youth, for whom he has repeatedly pledged his unwavering support.
"They are our renewable wealth, and building their skills is a fundamental priority of our nation," he said at an event in July. "We must prepare our youth for the future and give them the tools that will enable them to proceed ahead."
Also read: Dubai communication school students meet Shaikh Mohammed
The announcement has been well-received by young Emiratis eager to be represented in the political process. "It would be great having a cabinet minister who is close to our age, because that person would have a different perspective," said Shamsa Al Qamzi, an employee of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism Authority. "That person would heavily contribute to representing the younger generation and propose is-sues that concern people my age that the older generation may not exactly understand, especially due to our rapid economic development timeline and the gab that's present."A young Emirati student, Abdul-rahman Alawadhi, said the move will likely motivate more young UAE nationals to take an interest in the affairs of their leadership. "It's an excellent idea and will motivate young students to enter the field of politics and diplomacy, I think age is just a number and young people bring in vibrant ideas into the cabinet. There needs to be more and more youngsters in the cabinet," he said. "It will also motivate more youngsters to pay attention to government decisions." "It's great to know that young people will be entering the cabinet," added another Emirati student, Abdulla Al Hammadi. "They will be setting a trailblazing path for other youngsters. It will set a concrete ground for future initiatives and young people are more susceptible and sensitive to social issues."
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai