Global Shapers Muscat Hub expands bilingual youth programme

MUSCAT: Oman’s youth are stepping forward with a bold initiative to tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges — from climate change and mental health to financial literacy and digital skills — through the Young Shapers Programme, led by the Global Shapers Community – Muscat Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Now in its second year, the programme delivers bilingual workshops across five key themes — Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health and Well-being, Climate Change, Financial Literacy, and Upskilling Youth in the Digital Age.
So far, six outreach trips have reached more than 100 young people, including school and university students, job-seekers and budding entrepreneurs. The hub measures its impact through pre- and post-programme surveys, refining each edition for stronger outcomes.
Co-led by Saad al Mugharby, the youngest member of Muscat Hub and an undergraduate engineering student at the National University of Science and Technology, and Qais al Jeydani, co-founder and CEO of Madad — a project recognised among the Top 35 in the National Youth Programme for Skills Development by the Diwan of Royal Court — the initiative reflects the growing role of Oman’s youth in driving social and economic transformation.
“This programme is about equipping Oman’s youth with the mindset, skills and confidence to shape the future,” said Saad, who also co-founded Starframe, an AI automation agency, and is a seasoned football coach. “We believe that young people have both the responsibility and the ability to push boundaries and create lasting impact.”
The Muscat Hub brings together 30 young professionals, entrepreneurs and innovators from across sectors in Oman, each contributing expertise and energy to community-focused projects. Building on the hub’s earlier successes, including its OBO collaboration, the team has continued to integrate outdoor experiential learning in partnership with Outward Bound Oman (OBO), while financial backing from Omnivest has powered this year’s rollout.
Behind every initiative is a sense of teamwork and shared vision. “It’s not just one or two of us,” noted Qais. “Every Shaper brings their own aspirations and wears multiple hats in their professional and personal lives — but we come together under one umbrella to make these projects possible.”
With momentum from the current edition and lessons learned along the way, the Muscat Hub is determined to expand its reach and deepen its impact. “We’re just getting started,” Saad emphasised.