Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Developmental Affairs & Martyrs’ Families, the Chairman of the Arab Youth Center (AYC), witnessed the closure of the proceedings of the 4^th edition of the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Program, which was organized by AYC at the headquarters of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The graduates of the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Program amounted 46 male and female graduates from 13 Arab countries, within an initiative that aims to enhance the exchange of expertise and sharpen the leadership skills of young diplomats in the region, in cooperation with Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a number of major world diplomatic institutions, including Geneva Graduate Institute, W Foundation, Harvard Kennedy School, and the United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR).

The closing ceremony was witnessed by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, the Chairman of the Municipality & Planning Department – Ajman, AYC’s Vice-Chairman, and H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, AYC’s Vice-Chairman, beside a number of VIPs and ambassadors of the Arab countries participating in the program, and elite academics and experts in both diplomatic and economic affairs.

H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “The Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Program embodies the vision of the UAE in supporting young Arab talents, and providing them with the tools and knowledge that enable them to represent their homelands with awareness and responsibility, in what reflects the values of cooperation, peace, development and prosperity.”

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi said: “We, at the Arab Youth Center (AYC), believe that the empowerment of the youth with specialized diplomatic knowledge is a first step towards the creation of an influential Arab presence in the global economy.”

He added: “We have cared, in this program, to combine practical expertise and foreseeing thinking, in what would enable young diplomats to builds bridges of cooperation, and to contribute to drafting developmental and economic policies that put the interests of their homelands and their peoples as the foremost priority.”

In his opening speech during the closing ceremony, H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, emphasized: “The journey of the participants during the program is a real school of modern diplomacy, in which the participants learnt the skills of negotiation, understanding international economic relations, forging partnership, and the transformation of ideas into realistic initiatives.”

His Excellency added: “I confirm that the youth are always trustable. With every step they take, they represent our identity and our nation, and they are creating the outstanding image of the Arab youth and of their homeland that develops thanks to their efforts and talents. Their holding on their identity and authenticity makes them the best ambassadors of our homelands to the world.”

This year’s edition focused on economic diplomacy and international trade, aligning with the present global transformations, as the participants received a specialized training on global commercial policies, international economic agreements, and the management of multiparty economic negotiations, with the participation of a number of international diplomatic institutions, aiming to provide them with the skills and knowledge that enable them to handle complicated economic issues in the international scene.”

During 19 days of practical and theoretical training, the participants were introduced to a collection of axes and topics, which included tools, tactics, the science behind persuasion, the development of negotiation from history to the future of diplomacy, and the arts of etiquette in the world of diplomacy, with the simulation of negotiation using artificial intelligence (AI).

In another context, the program addressed the topic of artificial intelligence and geopolitical sovereignty from the Chinese perspective, and the applications of economic diplomacy by the simulation of climate congestion.

In its specialized section, the program focused on foreseeing the future and investment diplomacy strategies, and the study of commercial agreements, with the presentation of the drafting of national agendas, and the review of optimum commercial strategies.

The ceremony ended with honoring both partners of the program, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in appreciation of their contributions to the success of its events and sharing their expertise with the participants, contributing to the enrichment of the training content, and enhancing the received benefit from the realistic experiences of diplomatic practice.

AYC continues to consolidate its position as a pivotal platform for the empowerment of the Arab youth, and bolstering their active participation in various vital fields, including diplomacy, innovation, community work, and business entrepreneurship, as it aims by its qualitative programs and initiatives to provide the youth with the tools and skills that enable them to be partners in forming the future of their homelands, and to contribute to building an Arab apparatus that is more capable to interact with global parameters confidently and pioneeringly.