AI, policy, power: 23 young coders get a front‑row seat to the UAE’s playbook

Arab Youth Tech Fellowship’s 2025 cohort met H.E. Omar Al Olama in Abu Dhabi to discuss AI, government innovation and Microsoft-led skills training running 10–17 October.

Abbas Jaffar Ali
By
Abbas Jaffar Ali
Abbas has been covering tech for more than two decades- before phones became smart or clouds stored data. He brought publications like CNET, TechRadar and IGN...
7 Min Read
AI, policy, power: 23 young coders get a front‑row seat to the UAE’s playbook
TL;DR
  • 23 Arab Youth Tech Fellows met the UAE AI Minister in Abu Dhabi
  • Week‑long programme runs 10–17 October with sessions at MBRCGI and ADGM Academy
  • Microsoft‑led “AI Champions Skills Track” starts Monday, 13 October, covering AI‑900 and Copilot

Twenty‑three participants from eight Arab countries are in Abu Dhabi this week for the fourth Arab Youth Tech Fellowship. They met H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, to talk about the UAE’s approach to government innovation and digital transformation. The programme runs 10–17 October and includes an advanced Microsoft‑led skills track on Copilot and AI‑900.

What happened and why it matters

The cohort met UAE leadership at the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) and discussed how AI is being used across public services. The visit is part of a wider programme delivered with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft.

  • Meeting held at MBRCGI in Abu Dhabi
  • Session led by H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama
  • Focus on AI, government innovation and youth skills
  • Programme delivered with the Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft

The MBRCGI session set the tone for a week of activity aimed at equipping young innovators with practical knowledge of how AI is deployed inside government. The UAE’s model puts AI to work for service design and delivery, and the discussion highlighted national initiatives in digital transformation. For the fellowship, the partnership with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft ties policy with hands‑on tooling, keeping the agenda grounded in real projects.

Who’s involved

The Arab Youth Center is running the fourth edition of the fellowship with support from the Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft as part of the wider “One Million Arab Coders in AI” initiative.

  • Organiser: Arab Youth Center (at ADGM Academy)
  • Strategic partners: Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft
  • Linked initiative: One Million Arab Coders in AI
  • Participants: 23 young innovators from eight Arab countries

The programme is positioned inside a regional skills push that treats youth talent as the main engine for future growth. The “One Million Arab Coders in AI” initiative, led by the Office of the Minister of State for AI, anchors the fellowship in a multi‑year effort to build technical capacity across the Arab world. The mix of public‑sector policy and private‑sector tooling is deliberate: it puts the cohort in the same room as decision‑makers while giving them access to modern AI platforms.

Related reading on Tbreak: our coverage of UAE public sector AI at GITEX and Intel’s AI strategy shows the broader context the fellows are stepping into.

What the Minister said

H.E. told participants that building future governments starts with empowering young minds. Technology, he said, is a means to achieve development, not an end.

  • Youth are central to the region’s digital future
  • Technology should deliver social and economic impact
  • Equipping youth with tools and knowledge is the first step

The message was direct: innovation should improve lives and institutions. The Minister framed youth as the “true capital” in the Arab world’s tech journey, urging participants to turn skills into outcomes that matter, from better services to new businesses. It’s a pragmatic stance. Skills plus mission equals impact.

The skills track: AI‑900, Copilot and real‑world use cases

From Monday, 13 October, fellows start a three‑day in‑person “AI Champions Skills Track” led by certified Microsoft trainers, focused on AI fundamentals and Copilot.

  • Dates: 13–15 October (in‑person, Abu Dhabi)
  • Modules: AI Fundamentals (AI‑900), Copilot apps, AI in the workplace
  • Workshop: design thinking to build real use cases
  • Goal: produce AI Champions who can drive change inside their organisations

The track blends certification prep with applied labs on Copilot and Microsoft AI solutions. Expect fellows to prototype use cases that touch core workflows in the region, from public services and education to SMEs. The design‑thinking workshop is there to keep projects grounded in actual user needs rather than tech demos.

Why it matters for the UAE and the region

The fellowship builds a pipeline of talent that can translate AI policy into delivery. It also reinforces the UAE’s position as a regional hub for youth empowerment and innovation.

  • Converts policy into skills and projects
  • Encourages cross‑border collaboration among Arab youth
  • Supports the UAE’s role as a convening hub for AI and digital transformation
  • Creates momentum ahead of GITEX Global week in Dubai

Programmes like this tend to have second‑order effects. Fellows return to their institutions with a network, a shared language for AI, and a clearer view of how to ship real projects. That raises the floor for digital services across the region. With major events and pilots running in mid‑October, the timing also helps connect the cohort to a wider ecosystem of public and private deployments.


What is the Arab Youth Tech Fellowship?

A week‑long programme hosted by the Arab Youth Center to upskill young innovators from across the Arab world in AI and digital transformation, with policy exposure and hands‑on training.

Who are the partners?

The programme runs in strategic partnership with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Microsoft, aligned with the “One Million Arab Coders in AI” initiative.

What did the Minister discuss with the fellows?

Government innovation in the UAE, national AI initiatives and the role of youth in shaping practical digital transformation.

What training will participants receive?

A three‑day Microsoft‑led track covering AI Fundamentals (AI‑900), Copilot apps and a design‑thinking workshop to build real use cases.

Why is this relevant to the UAE?

It builds a skilled community that can deliver AI projects inside public and private institutions, supporting the country’s push to modernise services and grow a knowledge‑driven economy.



Share This Article
Abbas has been covering tech for more than two decades- before phones became smart or clouds stored data. He brought publications like CNET, TechRadar and IGN to the Middle East. From computers to mobile phones and watches, Abbas is always interested in tech that is smarter and smaller.