A number of recent studies have revealed that youth unemployment figures in the Arab World have reached dangerously high percentages, which will be the topic of focus during the 5th Annual Forum of Young Arab Leaders (YAL) that will be held on November 5th and 6th in ‘The Address’ Hotel in Downtown - Dubai. According to those studies, over 100 million young people will enter the jobs market in the next 10 years, in a region that has a youth explosion with more than a quarter of Arabs under 29 being jobless. Outside sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab world has the world’s highest average unemployment rate, estimated at 13 percent. Among our youth and recent graduates, it is more than double that figure.

This year’s YAL forum will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and will be attended by over 300 Arab and international personalities, including young entrepreneurs from the public and private sectors, academia, and non-governmental organizations. The forum has previously played an important role in grooming a young generation of Arab leaders, fostering their development and coordinating regional programs through member-led initiatives

It is the goal of Young Arab Leaders to bring together various opinions from all over the Arab region to support entrepreneurship and innovation, in turn encouraging Arab populations to pursue bold paths to social and economic advancement.  It is that confidence; organizers say that will then serve to aid local communities in creating new, modern jobs whilst aligning regional economies with the global business climate.

Earlier forums have focused on research and development (R&D) as key issues for the Arab world, with participation from the private sector and government bodies leading the charge for greater entrepreneurship in this field. Despite the fact that Arab countries have over 200 leading universities, about 10 million graduates, and over 100 thousand consultancy firms, organizers say that more avenues should be open to Arabs to take bold actions in the field of R&D.

Key speakers at this year’s event include H.E. Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) and CEO of Mashreq Bank, H.E. Najla Al-Awadhi, FNC member, Chief Executive for Satellite Channels Affairs at the Dubai Media Inc. and Director of Dubai One satellite channel and board member of YAL; Mr. Mohammad Al-Madi – Vice Chairman and chief executive officer of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), KSA; Dr. Naif Al Mutawaa – CEO of Teshkeel Media Group; Member of the Young Arab Leaders Kuwait Board of Directors, Kuwait; Mr. Fadi Ghandour – CEO Aramex, Jordan, along with other prominent regional figures.  Many local, Arab and foreign personalities are also set to attend, who will share with young entrepreneurs their ideas and experience in the establishment of entrepreneurship in modern economies.

The forum is sponsored by Abraaj Capital, Future Pipes Industries, Dubai International Financial Centre, O2 Network, Burj Khalifa, Dubai School of Government, Arab Strategy Forum, Dubai Media Inc., Barjeel Art Foundation, Duke University, Bank of Beirut and Jiwin Public Relations Co.