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The Ministry of Finance organised the MoF Youth Forum at its headquarters in Dubai, the ministry said in a statement. Senior officials in attendance included Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Undersecretary Younis Haji AlKhoori, Assistant Undersecretary for International Financial Relations Ali Abdullah Sharafi and Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector Fatima Yousif Al Naqbi along with department directors and ministry employees. AlKhoori affirmed that youth form a fundamental pillar of the UAE’s development vision with the country’s leadership committed to their empowerment as key drivers of innovation in government finance.
According to the ministry, the forum provided an important platform for dialogue, engagement and the exchange of ideas among young Emiratis. It featured an Ask the Leadership session that facilitated direct interaction between youth and senior officials. A youth dialogue session titled From Ambition to Impact, which examined how MoF youth are shaping the future, and the Youth Innovation Lab rounded out the programme by encouraging collaborative solution development.
AlKhoori stated that empowering youth is a priority to enhance the readiness of national talent and contribute to building a more innovative and sustainable financial future. The ministry highlighted several initiatives during the gathering including the Ministry of Finance Youth Council. Additional programmes cited were the Financial Leaders initiative under the Young Financial Advisers Programme and dedicated pathways for Emirati talent to gain experience with international financial institutions.
The event builds on the ministry’s earlier launch of the Leaders of Finance initiative in November 2025 under the Youth Financial Advisors Programme, according to previous reports by the Emirates News Agency. That programme sought to equip selected Emirati youth with hands-on experience inside government financial operations to deepen their understanding of the sector’s contribution to sustainable economic development. A subsequent field visits component concluded later that month and reinforced practical exposure for participants.
The Ministry of Finance previously reported that Emirati females account for 60 percent of its total workforce, 57 percent of leadership positions and 81 percent of its youth employees, figures that underscore ongoing efforts to integrate young national talent. UAE government data places youth as central to national strategies including the We the UAE 2031 vision, which prioritises human capital development across economic sectors. The financial sector itself has expanded steadily with international institutions establishing regional hubs in the country, creating further opportunities for trained Emirati professionals.
International financial relations officials at the forum discussed how such youth platforms align with pathways that allow Emiratis to engage with global bodies while advancing domestic expertise. The ministry has maintained these programmes as part of a consistent push to prepare younger generations for leadership roles that support long-term fiscal sustainability. Participation in the MoF Youth Forum reflects the scale of internal efforts that have engaged hundreds of young employees since the introduction of related initiatives in recent years.
