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The Ministry of Finance organised the ‘MoF Youth’ Forum at its Dubai headquarters on August 20, 2026 to spotlight youth involvement in government financial operations and prepare national talent for sector changes. 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 staff. The gathering featured multiple sessions aimed at fostering direct dialogue between leadership and younger employees.
Younis Haji AlKhoori affirmed that youth represent a fundamental pillar of the UAE’s vision for development and future-building, an approach the undersecretary attributed to the leadership’s commitment to investing in their capabilities. He noted that this strategy has produced a generation ready to assume responsibility, initiate projects and adapt confidently to change across multiple fields. AlKhoori added that the ministry views youth expertise and fresh perspectives as essential for maintaining pace with financial sector evolution while supporting broader national aspirations.
According to the ministry the forum served as a platform for exchanging ideas, addressing challenges and exploring opportunities that could amplify youth impact on institutional progress. Among ongoing programmes the ministry highlighted its Youth Council that collects proposals from younger staff to improve operations, the ‘Financial Leaders’ track within the Young Financial Advisers Programme and routes for Emirati talent to gain experience at international financial bodies. These steps form part of wider efforts to equip young nationals with practical exposure to global standards.
A dedicated ‘Ask the Leadership’ session gave young ministry employees the chance to pose questions directly to executives on career development and participation in government work. Another dialogue titled ‘From Ambition to Impact: MoF Youth Shaping the Future’ examined personal experiences, aspirations and the evolving nature of roles within the finance ministry. Participants discussed the need for continuous learning, digital competencies, artificial intelligence tools, adaptability and both local and overseas exposure to navigate rapid transformations in the sector.
The event wrapped up with a Youth Innovation Lab that created space for reflection, idea sharing and the formulation of practical proposals, the ministry reported. Young attendees were encouraged to translate knowledge into concrete solutions addressing workplace challenges and supporting broader innovation goals. This hands-on component reinforced the forum’s focus on turning ambition into measurable contributions.
The gathering aligns with the Ministry of Finance Strategic Plan 2023-2026 which according to the official UAE government portal sets a roadmap for accelerating performance through financial empowerment and sustainability measures. A ministry announcement on August 18, 2026 detailed a new partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre aimed at cultivating the next cohort of financial leaders and advisers. Such collaborations build on the November 2025 launch of the Financial Leaders initiative with the Federal Youth Authority to train participants in public finance leadership.
