Dubai Airports partners with FYA to launch Youth Launchpad
Dubai Airports and the Federal Youth Authority have announced a partnership that will see the allocation of commercial spaces at the world’s busiest international airport, DXB, for young Emirati entrepreneurs. The partnership was solidified during a tour for H.E. Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority, and H.E. Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports.
Both organisations will work together on the Youth Launchpad initiative, a programme which provides commercial spaces, in highly sought-after locations, to help support startup businesses founded by young Emirati entrepreneurs. For the airport, the focus will be to seek start-ups that will showcase Arabian culture, hospitality, and creativity.
In partnership with the Authority, Dubai Airports will create a specially designed area, in one of the busiest areas of the airport between Concourses B and C. This space will offer young entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their projects to a truly global audience.
The latest agreement is part of Dubai Airports’ ongoing support to Federal Youth Authority initiatives, with its airports already hosting several projects, as well as the Dubai Airports Youth Council, which it formed in cooperation with the authority.
Great opportunity
H.E Saeed Al Nazari, Director-General of the Federal Youth Authority, stressed that this support of young Emirati entrepreneurs at the world’s busiest airport is a valuable opportunity to invest in young people and empower them, by introducing their products to the world and offering exposure to people from a range of cultures and nationalities, as well as positively reflecting youth projects as a cultural and creative interface.
H.E. Al Nazari added: "We are working in cooperation with Dubai Airports to achieve the greatest possible benefit for startups in the UAE. Its airports attract investors and entrepreneurs from all over the world, and we’re delighted that young businessmen will benefit from this wonderful advantage.”
Pioneering enterprises
Majed Al Joker, Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs at Dubai Airports said: “At Dubai Airports, we follow our wise leadership’s vision of empowering young people and investing in their energy. The UAE has always provided its youth with opportunities and has directed their energies to drive its future. Young people have proven that they are able to excel in business and launch distinctive, pioneering projects that have attracted investors from all over the world.”
He added: “Dubai International (DXB) has continued to lead in the recovery of the travel industry and has seen passenger traffic numbers increase over the past year, which means those entrepreneurs selected to be a part of this Youth Launchpad will have a truly global audience. Our cooperation with the Federal Youth Authority is a profitable investment in youth ambitions, aligning with our wise leadership’s vision of empowering Emirati youth and ensuring their competitiveness across global markets. As well as launching the Dubai Airports Youth Council, we are now actively developing youth-driven programs to reinforce communication between young people and the senior management of Dubai Airports.”
Application
In cooperation with its partners, the Federal Youth Authority will provide 12 months’ support to the startups, with the option to extend based on performance. In addition, entrepreneurs can use the opportunity to evaluate their businesses during this period, as well as attend a training program to improve the businesses’ quality model and develop their entrepreneurship skills and access guidance and mentoring support, plus help to build their branding and identity.
In addition to free spaces, all participating startup projects will be provided with basic tools and technical equipment to interact with customers free of charge. To apply, those interested can visit the ‘Youth Launchpad’ website at https://launchpad.youth.gov.ae/home till February 15th, 2022.
Youth Launchpad initiative
In September 2019, H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the ‘Youth Launchpad’ initiative, as a Federal Youth Authority initiative. The program is considered as the one of the largest incubators for Emirati businesses, helping young people and their startups providing them access to key locations, including malls, markets, airports, and cultural and tourism facilities.