Dubai Press Club Marks UAE National Day and Google Hangout

Dubai Press Club Marks UAE National Day with Virtual Panel Discussion on ‘Youth, the Spirit of the Nation’

Dubai-UAE: 29 November, 2012 - On the occasion of the UAE’s 41^st National Day, Dubai Press Club organized a virtual panel discussion titled ‘Youth, the Spirit of The Nation’, examining how the young generation responds to the aspirations and hopes of the country’s wise leadership with their work ethics and advanced education.

Organized in collaboration with Google, the session was directly streamed on the Dubai Press Club channel on YouTube using the "Google Hangout" technology, which provides an excellent opportunity for the public to watch and participate via the Internet. The event drew the participation of higher education students and faculty, as well as key representatives from the government and media sectors.

Moderated by Mohamed Al Hosany, Senior Events Coordinator at Dubai Press Club, the session featured a panel of higher education students including Mariam Abdul Razak from the University of Sharjah and a member of Sharjah Ladies Club of Sharjah Supreme Council, Muhrah Al Junaibi from the UAE University, Hussah Al Shouaihi from the Dubai Women's College – HCT, Ahmed Yousef from Dubai Men's College – HCT and winner of the ‘Best Volunteer’ in the Arab Media Forum2012, and Marwa Mahmoud from the UAE University and President of the Media Forum.

Marwa Mahmoud said: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has expressed through his speech the importance of the spirit of the Union; his words have touched the minds and aspirations of young Emiratis. His Highness addressed the youth and encouraged them to be part of the development of the UAE. We are proud to belong to this country, which is a role model for other countries in many aspects. "

Commenting on the role of youth in building the nation, Ahmed Yousef said: "It is time for all the UAE youth to give back to this country, which has motivated us to develop ourselves by providing the best levels of education, in addition to many job opportunities in various fields. Our leaders’ dedication to work and devotion to this beautiful country is truly inspiring."

Muhrah Al Junaibi highlighted the UAE’s initiatives to the youth. He said: "These initiatives help all young people to give back something to the country, however small. They are the first step for realizing our aspirations and translating our thoughts on ground. We are grateful to our generous leadership’s efforts to encourage young people to pursue their dreams and aspirations."

Drawing attention to the challenges faced by young people, Hussah Al Shouaihi said: "The best education, training, and job opportunities are available now for young Emiratis in most areas, but with the presence of multiple expertise and foreign nationals in the UAE, we  face competitive challenges both in achieving academic excellence or while identifying appropriate job opportunities."

Mariam Abdul Razak said: "Youth must play a big role in maintaining the country's achievements through the dedicated work and commitment to the nation. The young must also continue striving to develop the accomplishments achieved by our wise leadership."