Key Takeaways
- e& launched a World Youth Skills Day activation combining physical and virtual AI and leadership workshops
- The initiative supports UAE's National Youth Agenda 2031 with 200+ courses in AI, data science, and cybersecurity
- Programs target practical digital skills gaps between academic learning and workforce readiness
UAE telecom giant e& marked World Youth Skills Day 2026 with a youth activation program aimed at building AI and leadership skills among young Emiratis. The initiative, run alongside the Federal Youth Authority, combines in-person workshops at e&'s Alkifaf Innovation Centre with upcoming virtual sessions designed to reach a broader audience.
The program feeds directly into the UAE's National Youth Agenda 2031, a government framework targeting youth readiness for a knowledge-based economy. For product teams and AI builders operating in the Gulf region, the initiative signals where corporate training priorities are heading. It also reflects a pattern across Middle Eastern telecoms: positioning youth education as both CSR and talent pipeline strategy.
What e& is actually offering
The physical session at Alkifaf Innovation Centre included a leadership talk, coaching workshop, and a tour of e&'s AI retail store. A virtual session will follow, extending access to participants who could not attend in person.
Beyond this event, e& operates a Youth Academy through GoLearning, offering more than 200 courses covering AI, data science, cybersecurity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. The company has also run youth debate sessions, global youth talks, and an AI summer camp with the Emirates Federal Youth Authority.
Mohammad Harib AlFalahi, Chief Corporate Services Officer at e&, framed the initiative around practical outcomes: "Through our World Youth Skills Day activation, we are helping youth gain practical knowledge, develop leadership skills and explore the opportunities emerging from AI, technology and new ways of working."
“By joining forces with partners such as the Federal Youth Authority, we are able to scale our efforts and co-create an environment where young talents can truly thrive. Together, we are bridging the gap between academic learning and practical digital leadership.”
— Mohammad Harib AlFalahi, Chief Corporate Services Officer, e&
Why telecoms are betting on youth AI training
e& operates across 16 countries with a customer base exceeding 1.8 billion users. For a company of that scale, youth programs serve a dual purpose. They build goodwill with governments pushing national development agendas. They also create early touchpoints with potential future employees and customers.
The UAE's 2031 agenda puts pressure on private sector companies to contribute to workforce development. Programs like this one let e& demonstrate alignment with national priorities while building a pipeline of digitally literate talent. Given the difficulty of hiring AI-skilled workers in the Gulf, growing your own makes strategic sense.
The emphasis on inclusion, covering women, youth, and People of Determination, also tracks with regional regulatory expectations. Companies operating in the UAE face increasing scrutiny on diversity metrics, and youth training programs offer a visible way to address those requirements.
What product teams should watch
For AI builders serving the Middle East, programs like e&'s signal where enterprise buyers expect to find talent. If you are building tools for the region, your user base will increasingly include people trained through corporate academies rather than traditional CS programs. That affects documentation, onboarding, and support design.
The 200-course library e& offers through GoLearning suggests what skills regional employers value: AI fundamentals, data science, cybersecurity, and sustainability. Product teams building enterprise tools might consider how their platforms integrate with or support these learning pathways.
Logicity's Take
e&'s program is less about altruism than workforce economics. The Gulf faces a structural AI talent shortage, and telecoms cannot wait for universities to catch up. By running their own academies, companies like e& control curriculum relevance and build brand loyalty with future hires before they enter the job market. For AI product teams targeting Gulf enterprises, expect procurement decisions to increasingly factor in how your tools support internal training and upskilling, not just end-user productivity.
How this fits the regional pattern
The UAE is not alone in pushing corporate-led youth training. Saudi Arabia's NEOM project includes workforce development components. Qatar's 2030 Vision emphasizes digital skills. e&'s activation is one node in a broader regional shift toward public-private partnerships for education.
World Youth Skills Day, established by the UN in 2014, gives companies a hook for these announcements. The global theme this year, "Skills for a Shared Future," emphasizes collaboration, a framing that lets telecoms position themselves as essential infrastructure for national development rather than just service providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is e&'s Youth Academy?
e&'s Youth Academy, launched through GoLearning, offers over 200 courses in AI, data science, cybersecurity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. It targets young people in the UAE and supports the National Youth Agenda 2031.
When is World Youth Skills Day 2026?
World Youth Skills Day is observed annually on July 15. The UN established the day in 2014 to raise awareness about investing in youth skills development.
What is the UAE National Youth Agenda 2031?
The UAE National Youth Agenda 2031 is a government framework aimed at empowering Emirati youth across education, employment, entrepreneurship, and civic participation, with emphasis on digital and knowledge-based economy readiness.
Where is e&'s Alkifaf Innovation Centre?
The Alkifaf Innovation Centre is located in Dubai and serves as e&'s hub for innovation programs, including the physical workshop component of the World Youth Skills Day 2026 activation.
Regional cloud infrastructure growth affects AI training capacity and enterprise tool adoption across Asia and Middle East markets.
Need Help Implementing This?
Building AI training programs or enterprise tools for Gulf markets? Reach out to the Logicity team for introductions to regional partners and implementation consultants.
Source: TahawulTech.com / Sandhya D'Mello
Huma Shazia
Senior AI & Tech Writer
Produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the Logicity editorial team. Learn more in our Editorial Policy.
