“Emirates Scout Association Unveils a New Era for Youth Development Through 2034”
Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, and Governance to Drive the Next Scouting Strategy
The scouting movement in the United Arab Emirates is moving toward redefining its institutional and youth-focused model in a more advanced and future-oriented direction through a new national strategy aimed at building a generation equipped with skills in artificial intelligence, innovation, leadership, and sustainability, while actively contributing to the knowledge economy and strengthening national identity and Emirati values.
Reflecting this vision, the Emirates Scout Association brought together scouting leaders, staff members, volunteers, boards of directors of scout commissions, and specialized committees in Sharjah for an extensive meeting to discuss the future direction of the UAE scouting movement and development plans extending through 2034, in alignment with global digital transformations and the future readiness of the youth sector.
Dr. Khalil Rahma emphasized that the association is working to build a new scouting model based on innovation, flexibility, and sustainability. He noted that the coming phase will witness a qualitative transformation in operational mechanisms, training programs, and services provided to youth, leaders, and volunteers.
He explained that the association’s new vision seeks to achieve “global leadership in scouting empowered by innovation and artificial intelligence” by preparing active citizens capable of adapting to global technological developments while preserving national identity and authentic Emirati values.
He further noted that the association is moving toward developing a modern scouting environment founded on institutional governance and data-driven planning, alongside enhancing the efficiency of youth programs and improving the quality of services offered to members, leaders, and volunteers. He stressed that digital transformation has become an essential component of the future of scouting rather than merely a developmental option.
Dr. Rahma added that the new 2026–2034 strategy includes initiatives related to artificial intelligence, sustainability, volunteerism, and digital transformation, positioning the UAE scouting experience as an inspiring global model in youth and volunteer work.
For his part, Khalid Al Saadi affirmed that true investment begins with developing young national leaders equipped with future-ready tools. He highlighted that the association is developing a modern training ecosystem based on smart technologies, innovation, and artificial intelligence.
He explained that the next phase will include the launch of specialized training programs and workshops to promote awareness of AI, entrepreneurship, and sustainability within the scouting environment, while also strengthening Emirati youth participation in Arab and international scouting events. These efforts aim to prepare a generation capable of global competitiveness while maintaining its national identity.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Al Redha emphasized that building a safe and sustainable scouting environment is one of the key priorities for the next phase. He explained that the association is developing a comprehensive safeguarding system aligned with international best practices, while also promoting a culture of respect, responsibility, and positive behavior within the scouting environment.
He added that the association places strong emphasis on embedding Emirati values and traditions within scouting programs and activities, while reinforcing the role of families as key partners in shaping youth character and fostering belonging and social responsibility.
The sessions featured presentations outlining the new strategy, which focuses on developing youth programs, strengthening national identity, embedding sustainability concepts, enhancing leadership competencies, expanding international participation, improving institutional governance, and accelerating digital transformation across the association and scout commissions.
Participants also discussed the association’s new institutional mission, centered on building a sustainable scouting organization capable of creating greater social impact by expanding outreach, adopting the highest standards of quality and safeguarding, and empowering youth to lead positive change and shape a more sustainable future.
Digital transformation received significant attention during the discussions as one of the key drivers for enhancing scouting operations and institutional efficiency, in line with the UAE’s vision of building smart institutions powered by technology, data, and innovation.
The association presented a comprehensive digital transformation plan that includes developing electronic systems for membership management, registration, activities, and training programs, while connecting scout commissions through a unified central platform to facilitate institutional communication and secure real-time data and reporting exchange.
The plan also addressed expanding the use of artificial intelligence within the scouting experience through interactive digital learning and training platforms, electronic tools to support leaders in program design and troop management, and analytical databases to monitor needs, challenges, and performance indicators continuously.
Participants emphasized that digital transformation goes beyond system modernization to include the creation of a new institutional culture based on innovation, agility, efficiency, and readiness to engage with future technologies and tools.
In this context, several future-focused digital initiatives were introduced, most notably the “Smart Scouting Platform,” which aims to provide integrated digital services for members, leaders, and families, including electronic registration, achievement and badge management, volunteer hour documentation, and access to training content through a modern learning environment.
The association also presented the “Digital Scout” initiative, designed to equip youth with skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, and future digital competencies while linking these skills to scouting values and community engagement in support of the UAE’s knowledge economy vision.
The sessions also discussed the association’s new internal regulations and committees’ operational guide as fundamental pillars for enhancing administrative and organizational work within the association and scout commissions. Participants affirmed that the new regulations contribute to unified procedures, clearer roles and responsibilities, improved institutional performance, enhanced transparency, sustainability, and institutional integration.
The future committee structure was also reviewed, including the Leadership Development Committee, Values, Ethics and Safeguarding Committee, Youth Programs Committee, Innovation and Digital Transformation Committee, International Relations Committee, Volunteerism and Community Responsibility Committee, and Environmental Sustainability and Institutional Partnerships Committee.
The association also introduced several family-oriented initiatives, including the “Family Leads with Scouting” initiative, which aims to organize camps and interactive workshops bringing scouts and their families together around sustainability, innovation, and healthy living concepts, in addition to providing families with leadership and positive communication skills.
Participants also reviewed the “My Family and the Future Leader” platform, which seeks to document family projects and volunteer initiatives involving scouts and their families while launching monthly challenges that create social impact within schools and residential communities.
The meeting further explored the “Sustainable Leader at Home” program, which connects scouting leadership with family responsibility by training youth in planning, problem-solving, and family volunteer initiatives.
As part of supporting the knowledge economy, the “Year of the Family – Innovative Scouts” initiative was introduced, featuring workshops on artificial intelligence and innovative thinking for scouts and their families, alongside competitions for community initiatives related to sustainability, technology, and human empowerment.
Participants also discussed the “Bridging Generations… Family Values” project, aimed at strengthening national identity and belonging through activities that bring together multiple generations within families to document national stories and Emirati heritage while reinforcing the concept of the family as the primary school of values and Emirati traditions.
The meeting concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing collaborative work among the association, scout commissions, committees, and youth leaders; accelerating institutional and digital transformation; strengthening youth participation in scouting decision-making; and building strategic partnerships that support the sustainability of scouting in the UAE, thereby reinforcing the position of the UAE scouting movement as a leading regional and international model in youth and volunteer work.