Cairo: The UAE chaired the 49th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports, held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo from January 11 to 13, 2026. The session was attended by youth and sports ministers, senior officials from Arab countries, and representatives of the General-Secretariat of the League of Arab States to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in the youth and sports sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Council was chaired by Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports. The UAE delegation included Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, and Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, Director of the Empowerment Department at the Federal Youth Authority. They participated in all technical and executive meetings, including those of the Youth Committee, the Sports Committee, the Financial Committee, the Fund, and the Executive Bureau, as well as the ministerial meeting.
In his speech, Al Falasi stated that the UAE's chairmanship of this session reflects its commitment to fostering collaborations in the Arab youth and sports sectors. He emphasized the importance of strengthening regional integration and developing sustainable policies that contribute to youth empowerment and the development of the Arab sports ecosystem. This aligns with broader comprehensive development priorities, reinforcing the role of youth as key pillars of development.
Al Falasi further mentioned that the UAE aims to promote Arab cooperation in youth and sports by chairing this session. The goal is to forge strategic partnerships and leverage the ongoing momentum in transforming the regional sports sector by hosting regional and international championships. Such efforts support youth empowerment, strengthen Arab cohesion, and reinforce the regional and international presence of Arab states.
Khalid Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, highlighted that the UAE's work in the Arab collective arena is based on investing in human capital as the core and driving force of development. The directives of the leadership provide a sustainable strategic framework for youth policy development, enhancement of Arab integration, and creation of developmental models capable of keeping pace with rapid regional transformations.
The meetings focused on strategic initiatives for empowering Arab youth and enhancing their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sports Committee meeting addressed topics such as sports infrastructure development, community sports, school sports, women's sports, e-sports, and the organization of joint Arab sports events.
Concluding the meeting, the Council emphasized the importance of strengthening joint coordination and implementing practical initiatives aimed at advancing the Arab youth and sports sectors, in line with the aspirations of the youth and the regional development pathways.