• Recognition highlights Dubai Municipality's institutional approach to integrating youth into leadership, strategic planning and decision-making.
  • Young employees hold 18% of leadership positions and are represented across 52% of the Municipality's committees and teams.
  • Dubai Municipality Youth Council has delivered more than 42 programmes and initiatives in 2026, achieving a youth satisfaction rate of 99.37%.
  • Introduction of the Municipality's first Integrated Youth Policy and a dedicated AED 1 million budget strengthens youth development and participation.
  • Initiatives expand access to leadership, develop future-ready capabilities and enable young talent to contribute to institutional performance and community development.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2026: Dubai Municipality has been recognised as Organisation of the Year for Youth Empowerment in the Public and Government Sector category at the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit & Awards 2026, held from 20 to 21 October at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. The recognition marks the Municipality's second consecutive win for youth empowerment at the awards, highlighting its continued progress in developing an institutional approach to youth empowerment that places young employees at the centre of leadership development, innovation and organisational decision-making.

The recognition highlights the achievements of Dubai Municipality's Youth Council in establishing structured opportunities for young professionals to contribute to the Municipality's strategic priorities, develop leadership capabilities and participate in shaping the future of municipal services. Through dedicated policies, professional development programmes and partnerships, the Council has advanced youth empowerment as an integral component of institutional planning and talent development.

The award marks the second consecutive year that Dubai Municipality has been recognised for excellence in youth empowerment at the GCC GOV HR Awards, following its win in the Best Government Entity in Youth Empowerment category in 2025. This continued recognition underscores the Municipality’s sustained commitment to developing young talent and strengthening their contribution to institutional performance. These efforts align with the National Youth Agenda 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071, supporting national priorities to prepare young talent for future leadership and strengthen their participation in government development.

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: “Empowering young people is fundamental to building government institutions capable of anticipating change and embracing innovation. This reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his belief in Emirati youth as the UAE’s most valuable asset and a driving force behind its progress, with the energy, ideas and capabilities to shape its future. It also aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to prioritise youth empowerment, nurture future leaders and harness young people’s talents and ideas to advance government performance.”

He added: “At Dubai Municipality, we are committed to creating a work environment that provides young talent with meaningful opportunities to share their ideas, participate in decision-making and assume greater responsibilities in shaping the future of our services and operations. Our goal is to ensure that young people are active partners in the Municipality’s development and future direction.

“This recognition reflects our continued commitment to investing in young talent, supporting their ideas and integrating their perspectives into institutional planning and governance. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen our ability to deliver innovative, sustainable and future-ready services that support Dubai’s continued development and enhance quality of life across the emirate.”

Institutionalising youth participation in leadership

A central achievement of the Dubai Municipality Youth Council has been the development of the Municipality's first Integrated Youth Policy, establishing a structured framework for youth participation, professional development and leadership opportunities.

The policy supports the integration of youth development priorities into human resources planning, recruitment and professional development, reinforcing the role of young employees in shaping institutional practices.

Young professionals currently hold 18% of leadership positions within Dubai Municipality and are represented across 52% of its committees and teams. These figures demonstrate the Municipality's efforts to strengthen youth participation in organisational governance and provide opportunities for young employees to contribute to strategic and operational decisions.

The Youth Council has also expanded direct engagement between young employees and senior leadership, increasing opportunities for interaction from two to more than 30 per quarter. These engagements provide opportunities for young professionals to exchange perspectives with decision-makers, contribute ideas and gain greater insight into institutional leadership.

The Municipality has further strengthened its investment in youth development by allocating a dedicated AED 1 million budget for 2026, supporting the expansion of programmes and initiatives informed by measurable participation and satisfaction indicators.

Developing future-ready capabilities

During 2026, the Dubai Municipality Youth Council has delivered more than 42 specialised programmes and initiatives, building on 54 initiatives implemented in 2025. These efforts have engaged more than 350 participants during 2026 and maintained an average youth satisfaction rate of 99.37%.

Among the Council's initiatives is the Sustainability Leaders Lab, which brings young professionals together with Dubai Municipality's leaders and specialists to explore challenges and opportunities across four areas of municipal work. The initiative provides a platform for young participants to contribute perspectives and develop solutions that support Dubai's long-term sustainability and development priorities.

The Council has also introduced programmes designed to provide practical leadership exposure and professional guidance. These include ‘A Day with a Leader’, which enables young employees to gain insight into leadership responsibilities, and ‘Journey Companion’, which supports new interns throughout their training at Dubai Municipality. Based on a mentorship and guidance model, the initiative pairs each intern with a young Municipality employee who serves as a companion, helping them adapt to the workplace, share knowledge and navigate their professional development. More than 200 interns have benefited from the initiative, which achieved a satisfaction rating of 4.87 out of 5.

The success of Journey Companion has supported its integration into the Municipality's human resources onboarding practices for young employees, demonstrating how youth-led initiatives can contribute to the continuous improvement of institutional processes.

Additional initiatives include the Youth Skills Guidebook, which introduces more than 20 development opportunities across three pathways, helping young professionals identify programmes and experiences aligned with their interests and career aspirations.

Fatima Afghan, Chairperson of the Dubai Municipality Youth Council, said: "Our objective is to ensure that youth empowerment translates into meaningful participation, professional growth and opportunities to contribute to Dubai Municipality's development. Through the Youth Council, we are creating stronger connections between young employees and institutional leadership, while introducing programmes that help develop the knowledge, confidence and capabilities required for future responsibilities.

"The progress achieved reflects the value of giving young people a greater role in shaping the initiatives and policies that affect their professional development. We are particularly encouraged by the integration of youth-led programmes into the Municipality's wider institutional practices, demonstrating how ideas developed by young employees can lead to practical improvements and lasting organisational value."

Strengthening partnerships and institutional performance

The Youth Council's development has been supported by collaboration with 13 internal partners, 29 external partners and three international organisations, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development and wider participation.

Through coordination with the UAE Federal Youth Authority, young employees have gained access to more than 39 national programmes, conferences and exhibitions, alongside participation in eight international delegations during 2025 and 2026.

These partnerships have expanded opportunities for Dubai Municipality's young talent to engage with specialists, share experiences and contribute to discussions on emerging areas of government development, including innovation, artificial intelligence and sustainability.

The Council has also demonstrated the operational value of mobilising young talent within the Municipality. Youth-led contributions to content production, training and institutional initiatives have helped reduce reliance on external service providers while strengthening employees' practical experience.

The Council has further supported youth entrepreneurship through the ‘#Proud of Our Youth’ initiative, which provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses through commercial spaces.

Beyond institutional development, the Youth Council has encouraged young employees to contribute to community and environmental initiatives, including the distribution of more than 10,000 seedlings and 4,620 Iftar meals, reflecting its commitment to volunteerism and social responsibility.

These achievements demonstrate Dubai Municipality's continued efforts to establish youth empowerment as a sustained institutional priority, supported by dedicated resources, measurable outcomes and opportunities for young professionals to contribute across different areas of municipal work.

Through the continued development of its Youth Council, Dubai Municipality aims to strengthen its pipeline of future leaders, expand youth participation in institutional decision-making and equip the next generation with the capabilities needed to support Dubai's development and the UAE's long-term ambitions.