Arab Youth Center Launches Fifth Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders Programme
UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Aug, 2026
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Arab Youth Center on Monday launched the fifth edition of the Young Arab Diplomatic Leaders programme. The event featured the participation of 48 participants from 15 Arab countries.
This programme offers a unique blend of training and practical experience designed to assess the effectiveness of traditional diplomatic tools in today's rapidly evolving world. As technology, new actors, and interconnected challenges reshape international relations, this initiative aims to equip young diplomats with the skills needed to navigate these changes.
Organized through a strategic partnership between the Arab Youth Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, the programme collaborates with knowledge partners including Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, TRENDS Research and Advisory, and Delegation of the European Union to the UAE.
Theme: "Diplomacy Under the Microscope: Can Yesterday's Tools Still Manage Today's World?"
The programme, running until 10th September, comprises two remote training phases followed by an in-person phase in Abu Dhabi. During this final phase, participants will engage in simulation exercises, negotiation scenarios, and crisis management.
This new edition challenges participants to apply their knowledge through scenarios that test their skills in negotiating under pressure and managing multilateral crises. It also explores shifts in global power dynamics in the 21st century, the influence of technology companies, digital platforms, and non-state actors, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in communication and decision-making.
Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of the Arab Youth Center, stated:
"At the Arab Youth Center, we believe that investing in young Arab diplomatic leaders is an investment in our region's ability to understand the world, engage with it, and influence it."
She further emphasized the need for critical-thinking skills, negotiation expertise, a grasp of technology and artificial intelligence, and the ability to thrive in multilateral settings among today's young diplomats.
According to Al Hallami, this edition goes beyond conventional training by offering an integrated experience encompassing academic knowledge, analysis, negotiation simulations, practical exercises, and fieldwork. Participants will progress from understanding transformations and diagnosing challenges to rethinking tools and actors before putting their skills to the test in practice.