Emirates Foundation, a national organization established by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private funded initiatives for the empowerment of youth across the UAE  and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a framework for cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the two parties to achieve shared objectives aimed at enhancing and supporting Emirati youth’s employability and skills.

The MOU marked the start of a strategic partnership between the two parties through the Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Program, an online digital platform to promote university and career readiness, and several projects that support the pathways of youth from the educational stages to qualify them to enter the labor market and employment. Launched in October 2018, the platform already has over 10,000 active Emirati youth, and the partnership is expected to benefit thousands more youth across the UAE. 

The joint collaboration will focus on knowledge sharing and the development of digital courses accessible to beneficiaries, focusing on entrepreneurship, volunteer leadership, and other areas relevant to youth development. To date, there are 21 digital courses on the Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Program related to improving professional skills such as professional etiquette, networking and public speaking, learning about technology and enhancing digital literacy, and self-development, including having a growth mindset and increased emotional intelligence. Joint youth beneficiaries of the program will also have access to one-on-one advising to facilitate their career development paths.

Her Excellency Maytha Al Habsi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation said: “As a Foundation, we believe strongly in the power of collaboration with the public and private sectors for the empowerment of youth. Our partnership with Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation demonstrates our joint commitment to this goal with initiatives that foster and nurture a growing talent pool of youth entering the labor market every year and ultimately building a competitive workforce.”

Speaking on the occasion of signing the MOU, Maysa Jalbout, the Chief Executive Officer of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, said:  "The partnership between Emirates Foundation and the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education is a testament to our commitment to supporting young people in the UAE and preparing them for the future of work. Through the Al Ghurair Young Thinkers Program, an online program that was developed especially for the UAE, Emirati youth gain the opportunity to advance their skills and learn about careers that are in line with their individual interests and the requirements of the UAE’s current and future labour market."