The Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Youth, has announced the formation of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council’s sixth cycle, 2023-2025.

The new council members are young people from various academic and professional fields, reflecting the broad spectrum of inspiring, young Emirati talent. In their roles as council members, they will be a voice for youth across the emirate and help to launch and implement a range of initiatives to educate and empower young people.

His Excellency Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said: “Our ongoing efforts to invest in youth are in line with the priorities of our leadership to nurture this important segment of society that are the backbone of national talent and development. Emirati youth have already had significant successes across many fields, both locally and globally.”

Al Qasimi added: “Youth councils are an ideal platform to enhance direct communication between youth and decision makers. The councils serve as innovative tools that embrace creativity and inspire our youth to actively contribute to the leadership’s aspirations and future goals. The formation of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council’s sixth cycle is part of our ongoing commitment to encouraging new ideas to nurture young people’s hopes and aspirations, and to equip them with new experiences that build on our achievements in serving and empowering youth.”

His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, welcomed new members of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council, praising their efforts, which are in line with Abu Dhabi Government’s support of active youth participation in all areas that support the community and the nation.

His Excellency spoke about the role that young people’s ideas and contributions play in enriching ongoing dialogues and creating innovative opportunities, and directed council members to build on successes achieved during previous cycles by expanding their scope and collaborating with government entities to ensure their long-term impact.

His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash said: "The initiatives launched and implemented by the Abu Dhabi Youth Council, through its successive formations, show the extent of their great influence on progress and the significant change they can bring about. Youth are the true ambassadors of Abu Dhabi."

Members of the council’s sixth cycle are: Hamed Abdullah Al Hashmi, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Higher Colleges of Technology. He is Senior Space Project Development Engineer at the UAE Space Agency and was involved in designing and constructing the Emirates Mars Mission Hope Probe. He was also in charge of the electrical systems for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mini-satellite projects.

Additionally, Al Hashmi founded and chaired the UAE Space Agency Youth Council, and worked at the National Space Science and Technology Centre, UAE, and the Laboratory of Atmospheric, Space & Physics, US. Al Hashmi was also among five candidates shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Medal for the youth category at a state level in 2022.

Mohamed Abdulkareem Al Wahedi holds a master’s degree in Risk and Disaster Science from University College London, and a bachelor’s degree in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Leeds, UK. He has been working as a Senior Engineer at the National Center of Meteorology since 2018.  

As a youth affiliate at the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists, Al Wahedi has helped enhance youth engagement and participation in scientific research. In 2022, and for two years, he was elected to chair the Sustainable Development Goals National Council. He was also chosen as the youth delegate for the UAE Permanent Mission to the United Nations in 2020. He is a member of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management and the UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction in London.

Other members include Mae Nasser Al Mansoori, who holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, both from Khalifa University. She is currently studying for her PhD at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Helmut Schmidt University of the Armed Forces in Hamburg, Germany.

Al Mansoori is now working as a Senior Mechanical Researcher at the Technological Innovation Institute. Previously, she was working as a researcher at the Space Research and Innovation Center, where she was mainly focused on designing space structures, such as antennas.

Ghalya Ahmed Al Ali holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Zayed University. She is currently continuing her postgraduate studies in data science and artificial intelligence at the ESCP Business School.

Al Ali is currently working as a Strategic Affairs Analyst at the Crown Prince Court. She is working on an array of projects that serve the country in various fields, including economy, health, education and public policies.

Al Ali is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the National MS Society. She has actively participated in Masdar's WISER Pioneers Programme, and won the UAE’s EY Corporate Finance Women of the Year award. She has also represented the UAE in many forums locally and internationally, most notably the One Young World Summit in 2019.

 

Naser Mohamed Al Mansoori holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Zayed University. He is currently the Director of Governmental and Diplomatic Affairs at Etihad Airways. Al Mansoori holds an Abu Dhabi tour guide licence from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. He is also a member of the Aviation Sector Youth Council, and the Chairman of the Etihad Airways Youth Council.

Souad Mohamed Al Hosani holds a bachelor’s degree in HR Management from the Higher Colleges of Technology. She currently holds the role of Executive Director and Head of Asset Management Sales at First Abu Dhabi Bank. She has been President of Nexus Business Services since 2009. Previously, she worked for the Mubadala Development Company, before serving as Head of Corporate Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and then Director of Investor Care at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

Al Hosani has received several awards, including the Emirates Women Award in the Community Contribution category, the Arab Business Women Award, and the Youngest Achievers Award from the US Chamber of Commerce, in Abu Dhabi.

Ameera Mohamed Al Marzooqi holds a master’s degree in Systems Engineering and Management and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, both from Khalifa University. She has been working as a Power Network Protection Engineer with the Abu Dhabi Transmission and Dispatch Company since 2017.

Al Marzooqi is a certified Project Management professional from the Project Management Institute, and a graduate of both the UAE Government Leaders Programme and Young Future Energy Leaders Programme. She obtained an IP certificate from the Emirates Intellectual Property Society for inventing the ‘Colace’ device. In 2015, she was appointed as a UAE youth ambassador in Germany. She also worked in the Special Projects Team in the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company Youth Council.

In recognition of her talents, Al Marzooqi has won multiple awards, including the Minds on a Mission Award from the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations (2017), the Akon Entrepreneurship Award (2015), and the Sustainability Award from NYUAD (2012).