Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer welcomes Sultan Al Neyadi to approve the “Youth Space” at the world’s tallest, largest, and smartest net-positive energy government building

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed HE Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, at Al Shera’a the new headquarters of DEWA the largest, tallest and smartest net-positive government building in the world. The Minister of State for Youth Affairs approved the first Youth Spaces within a net-positive building. The spaces will be located at Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Hall, at Al Shera’a. During the visit, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs was briefed on DEWA’s key achievements and future projects, as well as the accomplishments and future plans of DEWA’s Youth Council. DEWA’s Youth Council received the Best National Government Youth Council 2025 Award in the UAE, in recognition of its pioneering efforts to support young people and develop their capabilities.

The Youth Spaces is part of the Federal Youth Authority’s Youth Spaces programme, which supports the National Youth Agenda 2031 by creating high-quality environments that enhance young people’s wellbeing and encourage learning, collaboration and innovation.

National partnerships

“Investing in youth is a cornerstone of the UAE’s development journey. Youth Spaces reinforce this approach by providing inclusive environments that nurture young people’s ideas, enhance their quality of life and expand opportunities for education, collaboration, participation and innovation – empowering national talent to continue development and anticipate the future,” said Dr Al Neyadi.

“This space reflects the strong cooperation between the Federal Youth Authority (FYA) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), advancing national efforts to empower youth, support their aspirations and strengthen their active participation across key sectors. It also underscores the pivotal role of youth councils in designing initiatives and programmes that respond to young people’s needs and aspirations, further enhancing their contribution to the UAE’s development journey,” added Dr Al Neyadi.

Leadership and sustainability

Al Tayer said the UAE believes that young people are the architects of the future and key partners in national  development and progress, adding that: “The wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, places youths at the heart of the development journey, creating an integrated ecosystem that empowers and prepares them to lead the future. Guided by this vision, DEWA continues to invest in young Emiratis by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to excel and strengthen their contributions across diverse fields.”

"The inauguration of Youth Spaces at Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Hall, in Al Shera’a, the largest, tallest and smartest net-positive government building in the world, holds special significance, reflecting Dubai’s vision for leadership, sustainability, innovation and future readiness. The new space provides a platform that brings creative minds together, encourages the exchange of ideas, builds partnerships and launches impactful initiatives that enhance institutional performance and competitiveness. It also marks a key step in DEWA’s commitment to providing an inspiring work environment that empowers the youth and harnesses their energy and potential,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer noted that DEWA’s workforce includes 2,387 young employees aged 18 to 35 years, which is 22.6% of its total staff. Additionally, young professionals occupy 36% of supervisory positions at DEWA. These figures reflect that empowering youths is an investment in DEWA’s future and sustainability. He also emphasised that DEWA’s receipt of the Youth Spaces label from the Federal Youth Authority reflects its strong commitment to advancing the National Youth Agenda 2031. This is achieved through a work environment that enhances quality of life, nurtures talent and skills, and creates opportunities for active participation, innovation and social responsibility.

Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, President of DEWA’s Youth Council highlighted that DEWA received the Youth Spaces label just a few days before the occasion of International Youth Day.

“As part of this recognition, Al Shera’a has been designated as an accredited Youth Space. Located in Al Shera’a building, a model of a future-ready workplace built on sustainability and innovation, this space will serve as a dynamic platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and initiatives that advance DEWA’s objectives and strategic direction,” Alremeithi said.

Supportive environments

DEWA’s Youth Spaces are the latest addition to the Youth Spaces ecosystem, a national initiative launched by the Federal Youth Authority in 2024 that leverages existing facilities across government and private-sector entities. The initiative transforms these facilities into accredited youth spaces that meet defined standards and provide supportive environments for learning, networking, knowledge exchange and the delivery of youth programmes and initiatives.

DEWA’s Youth Council will oversee the activation of the new space through events, programmes and initiatives tailored to young people’s interests. The space will strengthen youth engagement, develop skills and expand opportunities for collaboration with a wide range of entities.

The Federal Youth Authority continues to expand the initiative’s reach, having received more than 30 requests from government and private-sector entities to establish and accredit youth spaces since its launch. This reflects growing national partnerships aimed at providing outstanding environments that support young people across the UAE and strengthen efforts to empower and engage them in the country’s development journey.

Accredited youth spaces to date include the Ministry of Interior, Athar+, Madar 39 in Abu Dhabi, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Business Lounge, Al Barsha Pond Park in Dubai, the Lammah Space in Sharjah, the Fujairah Government Excellence Programme and the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre in Al Ain.