MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, along with other countries, marks World Youth Day (WYD) which falls on August 12 each year.
During the years 2025-2026, the ministry, through its Directorate-General of Youth, continued its efforts to build bridges of communication with young people, listen to their opinions and aspirations, and provide safe environments for discussing issues that impact and empower youth work.
Mohammed bin Marhoon al Maktoumi, Director of the Youth Initiatives Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said, “The ministry annually implements a programme to support youth initiatives aimed at empowering young people to carry out activities that contribute positively to society in various fields, including finance, culture, health, the environment, innovation, cybersecurity, and leadership.
The ministry supported 61 youth initiatives in 2025 and 68 in 2026, benefiting some 12,000 people.” Al Maktoumi noted that, in the area of volunteering, the “Esnad Oman Youth Volunteering Programme” for 2026 is a key project for developing young volunteers through workshops, volunteering camps, and specialised training programmes. The programme aims to train 500 young volunteers from across the Sultanate of Oman as well as conducting a series of camps to refine their volunteer skills and enhance the role of youth in community development.
Faisal bin Nasser al Hosni, Head of the Youth Participation Department at the Youth Programmes Directorate at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said that among the strategic programmes aimed at enhancing Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to develop the character of young Omanis in diplomatic, life, and disciplinary aspects, is the Youth Ambassadors Programme.
The programme aims to prepare young leaders for international engagements, develop their communication and negotiation skills, and enhance their knowledge of the United Nations councils and committees.
He added: “The Mustaid (ready) camp, which targets the 18-29 age group, promotes self-reliance and teamwork. The programme is held annually, with 500 participants targeted in 2026. In addition, the Military Discipline Programme, carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education, and other government institutions, is another significant national programme. It aims to instil values of citizenship and commitment in the participants through a four-week programme that includes military training, workshops, specialised lectures, and sports competitions. This year’s edition will see the participation of 1,000 young people from all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.” — ONA
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