As part of its participation in the 2025 United Nations Sustainable Development Forum, organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UAE hosted a youth-focused session titled “Voices for 2045: Youth Shaping the Future”, led by the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Held at the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the session brought together youth leaders and global advocates, including representatives from the UN General Assembly’s Major Group for Children and Youth.

The discussion explored youth perspectives on the post-2030 sustainable development agenda and fostered dialogue on the Extended Sustainable Development Goals (XDGs 2045), introduced by the UAE during the 2023 World Government  Summit.

Participants exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and reflected on the role of youth in shaping a more inclusive and resilient future. The session also served as a platform for young change-makers to connect with peers and contribute to the evolving global development dialogue.

Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee for SDGs, emphasized the UAE’s view of youth as essential contributors to shaping future development. “It is not enough to listen to youth as inspirational voices; their visions must be treated as essential inputs in policy-making and prioritization,” he said.

Forty participants from the UN Major Group for Children and Youth shared insights on themes of empathy, passion, and action. An online survey gathered their motivations, challenges, and ideas to advance youth involvement in sustainable development.

Key priorities included greater youth participation in policy-making, stronger global cooperation, innovation, improved access to education and healthcare, and environmental protection.

The session reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to the global SDG agenda and its efforts to strengthen youth participation in building a sustainable world by 2045.

The United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), established in 2012, serves as the UN’s central platform for reviewing countries’ progress on the 2030 Agenda.

As part of the 2025 Forum, participating delegations reviewed progress on five key SDGs: good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), life below water (SDG 14), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).