Eight young Emiratis are currently in Rafah spearheading essential aid efforts for Gazans, marking the UAE’s inaugural youth delegation in international humanitarian operations. Operating from Al Arish, Egypt, they are pivotal in coordinating relief for 600,000 Palestinians.
This team, aged between their mid-twenties and early thirties, plays a crucial role in managing tasks from water pipeline operations to providing psychological support for children, under Operation Gallant Knight 3.
“Coordinating relief shipments was transformative for my volunteer journey, showing me the tangible impact of UAE’s efforts,” shared Ibrahim Talal Al Blooshi with Khaleej Times, reflecting on his experience managing aid distribution.
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Engineer Taiba Youssef Al Hammadi leverages her technical expertise in accommodation and water distribution. “Working on desalination plants highlighted how engineers can significantly influence community and humanitarian work,” she explained.
Their mission coincided with World Humanitarian Day, when Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, visited Al Arish to observe their efforts.
Saif Mubarak Al Amri, responsible for medical and food aid distribution, shared: “Participating in this initiative allows me to represent the UAE globally. My logistics skills are applied here for meaningful impact,” he told Khaleej Times about his role in ensuring supplies reach Gaza.
This delegation is part of the UAE’s extensive relief effort, which includes 73 airdrops and over 31,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. Beyond logistics, they provide psychological support and foster connections with beneficiaries.
Ali Khalifa Al Muhairi emphasizes children’s welfare: “Supporting children psychologically and socially was a unique experience, building hope like material aid,” he noted.
The Youth Social Missions Programme signifies the first official deployment of Emirati youth for global humanitarian initiatives. Previously, volunteers participated in domestic events like ‘Tarahum for Gaza’, Expo 2020, and COP28, but now they are applying those skills in crisis areas.
“These youth reflect the UAE’s values of solidarity and generosity, ready to lead,” Al Neyadi stated during his field visit.
The young professionals bring diverse expertise in engineering, political science, media, and logistics, offering fresh insights into traditional humanitarian work while gaining crisis response experience.
Their mission supports the UAE Lifeline pipeline supplying water to Gaza, collaborates with international relief teams, and documents their experiences for training future delegations.
The programme is part of the National Youth Agenda 2031, with various pathways for youth to engage in national visions.
