Arab Youth Center

The Gulf Cooperation Council Hall

The Arab Youth Center (AYC) has dedicated a permanent hall at its HQ in Abu Dhabi to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The hall bears the name and identity of the GCC, serves as its executive HQ at AYC, and hosts youth programs, initiatives, workshops, seminars, conferences, discussion and trainings developed jointly by the two entities.

We are pleased that the UAE has presided over the 33rd Meeting of GCC Ministers of Youth and Sports. We look forward to continuing our work with the Council to make the Gulf Youth Forum a success in cooperation with the Arab Youth Center. The permanent GCC Hall at AYC’s headquarters will act as a Gulf beacon in Abu Dhabi to serve Arab youth.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of AYC

I commend the generous gesture of the Arab Youth Center in Abu Dhabi to assign the Gulf Cooperation Council a permanent hall bearing its name and identity, and serving as a venue for all the forums and activities of the GCC countries. I thank the UAE initiative, led by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed. The Council commends the support this blessed contribution has given to all GCC member countries on behalf of Their Majesties and Highnesses our leaders.

From His Excellency Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC

About the Partnership between AYC and the GCC

After a series of joint activities and projects, AYC’s leadership and the General Secretariat of the GCC decided to formalize their collaboration through a partnership agreement that seeks to maximize the benefits it offers youth in the region. The two entities aim to align their objectives in terms of youth work, and exchange experience and expertise in this field.

The decision was announced during the 33rd Meeting of GCC Ministers of Youth and Sports through video conferencing. The meeting was headed by the UAE with the participation of Her Excellency Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice President of AYC, who also delivered the opening speech. His Excellency Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC, commended AYC’s efforts and the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of AYC, for allocating a permanent GCC Hall at AYC’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi in recognition of the Council’s goals and role in serving youth from the GCC region and the wider Arab world.

The partnership culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between AYC and the General Secretariat of the GCC on November 26, 2020, aimed at supporting young people through joint programs and initiatives that advance their personal development, build their capabilities and empower them.

Areas Of Cooperation

1

Hosting select youth activities organized by the GCC at AYC’s HQ in Abu Dhabi
2

Developing joint programs and initiatives, and holding workshops, seminars, conferences, discussions and training sessions
3

Prioritizing nominees of the General Secretariat of the GCC for inclusion in all AYC’s programs and initiatives
4

Collaborating in the fields of arts and culture related to the concerns and aspirations of youth in the GCC region
5

Establishing a joint training program / fellowship
6

Cooperating on studies, research and surveys targeting youth in the GCC region
7

Collaborating on the General Secretariat’s pavilion at Expo 2020

Gulf Youth Forum

With an interest in developing youth capabilities and refining their talents, the Federal Youth Authority in the United Arab Emirates has welcomed the organization of the "Gulf Youth Forum" in cooperation with the Arab Youth Center in Abu Dhabi, and in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council. This forum devoted workshops to discussing youth’s trends, interests and readiness for the post-Coronavirus pandemic by focusing on many axes in various fields, including (education, work, entrepreneurship, security, Gulf citizenship, health, entertainment, sports and others...). One of the objectives of the Gulf Youth Forum is to celebrate young Gulf talents and competencies and link them to decision-makers.

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About the Gulf Cooperation Council

In May 1981, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf region met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where they reached a cooperative framework joining the six states to effect coordination, integration and inter-connection among the Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity, according to article 4 of the GCC Charter. Article 4 also emphasized the deepening and strengthening of relations, links and areas of cooperation among their citizens. The underpinnings which are clearly provided for in the preamble of the GCC Charter, confirm the special relations, and common qualities, faith in a common destiny and sharing one goal, and that the cooperation among these states would serve the sublime objectives of the Arab nation.

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