UAE Ministry of the Economy launches NextGen Talent to develop tech skills in UAE’s youth

The UAE Ministry of the Economy has announced the launch of ‘NextGen Talent’, its latest initiative aimed at developing the capabilities of youth in the UAE in the technology sector.

The event, which is being held in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is part of the ministry’s economic diversification efforts.

The launch event will be held on November 2 in the presence of Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

The event will bring together leaders from the UAE’s leading business brands and 5,000 students from universities across the country. These include the UAE University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and Khalifa University, as well as other universities and institutions in the UAE.

The event will also host high-profile speakers including Viktor Prokopenya, founder of Capital.com and Currency.com. The students will receive expert guidance on the skill sets needed to pursue careers in advanced technology, 4IR industries and Web3 ecosystems.

Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, said: “Technology and the digital economy are going to have a transformative effect on the career paths of UAE students who seek to make their way in an increasingly digital world. This event enables our most promising minds to access the latest in digital trends. The NextGen Talent forum shows increasing investment in homegrown leaders of the future in the field of advanced technology.”

Dr Al Zeyoudi said: “As the UAE seeks to double its national economy by 2030 and increase FDI inflows in preparation for the next 50 years of progress, empowering our youth with future skills is a national priority. Through this event, young talent from our leading educational establishments can gain expert guidance from those redefining the world we live in. NextGen Talent is designed to serve as an important bridge between academia and the real working environment outside.”

Capital.com and Currency.com founder Viktor Prokopenya said: “As the founder of NextGen companies and as someone with a lifelong passion for education, it is an honour to sponsor this event, which sets out to empower the UAE’s talent base with the skills they need to navigate the technologies of tomorrow. From AI to fintech to life sciences and beyond, the UAE is building a world-class business friendly ecosystem for the long term.”

NextGen Talent follows the launch in July of the Ministry of Economy’s  NextGenFDI programme, which is designed to attract digitally-empowered companies to the UAE. NextGen Talent and NextGenFDI will complement each other, with companies from the NextGenFDI initiative supporting the transfer of knowledge, technology and skill sets to the next generation of youth in the UAE.

Read: UAE launches NextGenFDI to attract world’s top digital companies