Sharjah 24 – WAM: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the 13th edition of the EmiratesSkills National Competition and the WorldSkills competition held on the sidelines of the event, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF).

The competition is being hosted by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), with the participation of 166 citizens.

The competition’s inauguration was also attended by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education; Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Ali Rashid Qannas Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Department of Government Support - Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Director-General of ACTVET, as well as several officials.

The attendants of the inauguration explored the pavilions of the National Competition and WorldSkills competition, lauding the distinguished competitiveness levels shown by citizens who are taking part in 24 engineering and technical categories.

They also commended ACTVET’s success in attracting a wide range of government institutions to participate in both events, including the Ministry of Education, the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, the Institute of Applied Technology, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, the Fatima College of Health Sciences, and other leading national universities and educational institutions.

Sheikh Nahyan said that, through their participation, Emirati youth are showcasing high levels of innovation that embody the vision of the UAE’s leadership to prepare young generations for future professions and supply them with modern-day skills and knowledge, enabling them to compete in the labour market.

Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi said the current edition of the competition is especially distinctive because the WorldSkills competition will be held on its sidelines, underscoring the success of its previous 12 editions in developing the skills of the Emirati youth.

Hussain Al Hamdi noted that the competitions contribute to preparing students for the future and developing their creative skills from a young age.

Dr. Mubarak Al Shamsi said the current edition of the competition focuses on ingraining innovation among young Emiratis across the fields of technology, innovation, manufacturing and engineering technologies, construction, transport, logistics, information and communication technologies, arts, fashion design and social services.

Ali Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Chairman of EmiratesSkills, said the competition would conclude tomorrow, with the winners to be announced on Thursday, 10th March, at ADNEC.