Abu dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, visited the Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival in the Al Wathba area of Abu Dhabi, where he interacted with the UAE team set to participate in the upcoming WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Mansour's visit to the festival featured a comprehensive briefing on various educational, training, and entertainment programs aimed at making effective use of the summer vacation. These programs are designed to develop students' skills, foster creativity, and reinforce national identity through collaboration with over 30 national, academic, security, sports, and community organizations. The festival hosts more than 3,000 workshops for over 10,000 students from different age groups.
During the festival, Sheikh Mansour met with the UAE WorldSkills team being prepared by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET). He reviewed the team's progress and the qualification programs in place as they gear up for the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 competition in China.
Sheikh Mansour emphasized the importance of investing in the UAE's youth, highlighting their role as the nation's greatest asset. He expressed his confidence in the UAE team's ability to excel on an international platform and wished them success in showcasing Emirati talent at the WorldSkills competition. The team consists of 17 competitors who will participate in 16 different skill categories, supported by a strategic roadmap for training and preparation implemented by ACTVET.
WorldSkills serves as a global stage for young professionals to demonstrate their technical and vocational prowess, promoting excellence and advancing educational systems to meet labor market needs. The Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival aligns with this vision by offering programs that integrate education and cultural values, contributing to the UAE's goal of fostering a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation.
The festival targets children and youth aged 6 to 18, along with families and visitors of all ages, providing a rich summer experience that combines learning with entertainment while promoting national values.