Sharjah Welcomes Young Global Leaders

Sharjah welcomed a delegation of 30 Young Global Leaders (YGL) - MENA region who visited the emirate on May 24–25 as part of the YGL Strategy Meeting 2016. Devised as an initiative to bring together MENA YGLs to build community spirit and foster mutual understanding, the activity formed part of the emirate’s support for young leaders and saw the delegates take part in a series of workshops, activities and tours in a number of locations throughout Sharjah. 

The delegation was accompanied by the MENA region’s four YGL champions, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); HE Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation; and HE Badr Jafar, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Enterprises. 

The first day of the YGL Strategy Meeting, which is being organised this year under the theme ‘Future of’, saw the young delegates starting their programme with a welcome dinner at Mleiha Bistro, located at Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-Tourism’s Archaeological Centre. An address at the event was given by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, as well as by Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi.

The following morning saw the young leaders convene at the Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy’s planetarium, located at University City of Sharjah, they were then taken on a tour of the planetarium’s comprehensive array of facilities. 

Protection of the environment and the importance of safeguarding the region’s unique heritage were the afternoon themes for the YGL Strategy Meeting 2016, with ‘Future of MENA Ecology’ the subject explored at the Arabian Wildlife Centre in Sharjah, the only zoological park in the Middle East to be entirely indoors. After several hours at the centre, where the youngsters were able to witness its captive breeding programme for endangered Arabian wildlife, the delegates’ next port of call was Sharjah Art Museum, where they reviewed the importance of preserving MENA arts and culture. The young leaders concluded their visit to Sharjah by learning more about Air Arabia through visiting its headquarters, before moving on to explore other emirates in the UAE.