Doha: The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council marked "Gulf Youth Day" through the Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data ceremony, hosted by the State of Qatar, with the participation of a group of creative Gulf youth and those interested in data, statistics, and digital innovation.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the award is organised in partnership between the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the State of Qatar, the National Statistics Centre of the State of Qatar, and the GCC Statistical Centre. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote a data culture and enable young people to use it in supporting sustainable development pathways. It reflects Gulf integration in investing in youth potential and building national capacities in statistics and data science.
The Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data, targeting Gulf youth aged 18 to 34, aims to identify promising talents in data, support young minds, and encourage creativity and innovation in data use and analysis. This contributes to developing a generation capable of transforming data into knowledge, and knowledge into a positive impact that improves the quality of life and supports evidence-based decision-making.
The award highlights the GCC countries' commitment to empowering youth and enhancing their role in leading digital transformation and shaping the future by encouraging them to use data and modern technologies to develop solutions and ideas that support sustainable development and improve decision-making efficiency.
During the celebration, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Planning Council of the State of Qatar, delivered a speech emphasising the importance of empowering youth and strengthening their role in using data and knowledge to support development and shape the future. He praised the award as reflecting growing Gulf interest in developing youth capabilities in data and innovation fields.
Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of the State of Qatar, stated that the winners of the Youth Creativity Award reflect the advanced level achieved by GCC youth in using data and modern technologies to serve their societies and promote the knowledge economy. As Gulf Youth Day is celebrated, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to investing in the minds of Gulf youth, acknowledging them as the true wealth of their nations and the main driver of development and sustainable innovation.
The ceremony included honouring the winners of the Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data in recognition of their outstanding projects and initiatives, which demonstrated the ability of Gulf youth to innovate and excel in data, statistical analysis, and modern technologies. Members of the supervisory and judging committees were also honoured.
Intisar bint Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre, affirmed that Gulf youth are the true wealth of GCC countries, and investing in their talents and creativity is an investment in the future of the region. She noted that the award reflects the commitment of GCC countries to providing platforms that showcase young talents and support their contribution to building a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
She added that the Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data has become a promising Gulf platform for motivating youth to use data in developing innovative solutions and initiatives, while promoting a culture of research, analysis, and creativity in line with the rapid changes of the digital age.
The award embodies the GCC countries' vision of building a Gulf generation capable of using knowledge and modern technologies in the service of development, while enhancing the competitiveness of GCC countries in innovation and the digital economy. It aligns with the strategic direction of GCC countries towards building a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation, data, and artificial intelligence, strengthening Gulf human capital, and empowering youth to develop innovative solutions that support decision-making and achieve sustainable development goals, while reinforcing their role as active partners in shaping the future of statistical and digital work across the region.
GCC countries place great importance on youth as the main driver of sustainable development and future-making. Data from the GCC Statistical Centre indicate that the total number of adolescents and youth in GCC countries (aged 10-24 years) reached about 11.8 million, representing 20.9% of the total GCC population. This reflects the importance of investing in this segment and enhancing its participation across various developmental, economic, and social sectors.