His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states pay great attention to the youth, recognising their important role in the development process and in building Gulf societies capable of meeting challenges, strengthening their identity, and actively contributing to constructing a bright, safe, and sustainable future. "They are the pillar of the present and the future, and leaders of sustainable development," His Excellency stated.
This came during the General Secretariat of the GCC's celebration of Gulf Youth Day, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at its headquarters in Riyadh, in the presence of His Excellency Mr Abdulrahman Baddah Al Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs in the State of Kuwait – the presidency country of the current GCC session - along with His Excellency Mr Badr bin Abdulrahman Al Kadi, Deputy Minister of Sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the host country – and with the participation of Their Highnesses and Excellencies, representatives of the Ministries of Youth and Sports in the GCC countries.
At the beginning of the celebration, His Excellency the Secretary General welcomed the attendees to the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat, stressing the importance of this occasion and celebration. "We celebrate today the honouring of a group of distinguished Gulf youth, who have proven with their determination, persistence, and creativity, that the future is not awaited, but is made with will and work, under the theme "Gulf Youth.. Creativity - Leadership - Achievement," His Excellency said.
He further added that: "Based on the lofty directives from Their Majesties and Highnesses, the GCC countries have been keen to empower youth, cement their participation in various sectors, and create a supportive environment for them to innovate, create, and lead, in a way that contributes to achieving their aspirations and ambitions, as well as meets the aspirations of our leaders to support and motivate youth, leading to an integrated Gulf society that advances with its youth and is proud of their creations and achievements in various fields,"
His Excellency also mentioned that Gulf youth are still an example of ambition and innovation. "Every young man and woman in the GCC countries carries in their heart a dream, in their mind an idea, and in their hand the ability to turn it into a realistic project that adds to the community, bolsters the quality of life, and keeps pace with the comprehensive development goals set by the ambitious visions of the Gulf countries. As an indication of this, the recent years have witnessed the emergence of pioneering initiatives led by young people in various fields, from the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and financial technology, to entrepreneurship, arts, the environment, and volunteer work.
"These young people have proven that they are a bright face for their countries in regional and international forums. We commend the unlimited support that the GCC countries provide to empower youth, whether through the establishment of national funds for entrepreneurship, or supporting innovation accelerators, or providing a flexible legislative and regulatory environment that embraces creativity and stimulates initiative," His Excellency added.
During the speech, His Excellency pointed out that the General Secretariat of the GCC, with the support of its member states, has launched the "Gulf Youth Index" which is an accurate scientific tool that monitors the reality of youth, measures their progress, and highlights areas for possible improvement. This index is a qualitative leap in joint youth work, as it relies on modern data and statistics covering various aspects of youth life, from education, health, and community participation, to employment, innovation, and quality of life, he stressed.
During his speech, His Excellency highlighted some statistics, stating that the age group from 15 to 34 years constitutes about 36% of the total population of the GCC countries, a percentage that represents a huge human resource if invested correctly.
The data also showed that the percentage of youth participation in sports, cultural and social activities exceeded 40% in some countries, which reflects their awareness of the importance of positive interaction with their societies.
As a living example of the level reached by the process of empowering Gulf youth, the percentage of entrepreneurial projects led by young people from the age group of 20 to 34 years exceeded 40% of the total emerging projects in some GCC countries, which is a highly significant indicator of the spirit of initiative and responsibility that the youth of the Gulf possess. The index also monitored a growing use of digital and technological platforms in entrepreneurship, which calls for greater support for modern technologies and business accelerators in national plans.
His Excellency also affirmed that the General Secretariat continues its diligent efforts in cooperation with the Ministries of Youth and Sports in the GCC countries to activate programmes that enhance leadership, support innovation, and open horizons for young energies to achieve more successes.
Moreover, His Excellency addressed the honoured GCC youth during the celebration, stating: "You stand today not only as recipients of recognition but also as beacons of leadership and responsibility. Each of you embodies a success story, a living testament to the values of hard work, dedication, and ambition. Having come from every GCC nation, young men and women representing each country, you are here to represent your homelands with excellence, carrying the flags of innovation and achievement, in a display that mirrors a shared destiny, interconnected goals, and genuine belonging to this blessed land. Your honour today reflects the hope your nations place in you, the positive energy your societies need, and the inspiration drawn from your excellence that illuminates the path for your peers. You are the hope, you are the architects of tomorrow. We in the General Secretariat of the GCC congratulate you on this achievement,"
Meanwhile, His Excellency affirmed that this honour is a new beginning, not a final destination. "It is a promise of trust, a message that the Council stands with you, supports your ambitions, and places your future at the forefront of joint Gulf endeavors," he stressed.
His Excellency the Secretary General also announced, during the celebration, the General Secretariat's intention to adopt a proposal to establish a "Gulf Youth Council" in the General Secretariat of the GCC, with an ambitious vision to empower Gulf youth to be active partners in contributing to shaping future policies and enhancing Gulf integration, and with the aim of establishing a permanent institutional platform within the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council concerned with youth affairs and being a unified voice for them at the level of the Council countries.
The council will cover key tasks including discussing the issues and challenges facing youth in the Council countries, and proposing joint Gulf initiatives in the fields of education, innovation, entrepreneurship, volunteer work, and digital citizenship, and preparing reports and recommendations to be submitted to the Ministers of Youth and Sports, and then to the Supreme Council, as well as organising the annual "Gulf Youth Forum" to be an open dialogue platform between youth and decision-makers, and with added value.
"It will also be to enhance the unity of the Gulf ranks by empowering the future generation, and building effective communication bridges between youth and decision-makers, in addition to supporting the ambitious national visions of the Council countries through the development of human capital,"
