BLOG: The NEP Experience

Our current cohort and NEP Alumni have been busy! Check out what they’ve been up to below. 

• January 21, 2023
  • NEP 2.0 alumna H.E. Asma Al Azri leads a workshop at the Abu Dhabi Integrated Mental Health Conference on Integrated Case Management, a revolutionary approach to solving familial issues that develops holistic interventions to support families in need.
    • “By focusing on the well-being of families in the UAE, I want to make a positive difference for the youngest generation and enhance their quality of life. I want this country to serve as a global benchmark for well-being, and strengthening family ties is my starting point.” – H.E. Asma Al Azri
• March 25, 2023
  • NEP 2.0 Fellow Meera Al Mheiri is profiled in The National for her groundbreaking work to modernize the UAE’s federal policymaking process. Building on her NEP 2.0 Capstone Project, Meera hopes to lay the foundations for good governance in the UAE and worldwide.
    • “I want it to become a global model to follow, aiming to design and acquire a quality certificate for policymaking.” – Meera Al Mheiri
• March 28, 2023
  • NEP 2.0 Fellows Sultan Al Junaibi and Ali Alshimmari attend a Majlis MBZ lecture given by NEP 3.0 speaker Amy Webb, Founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute. Her talk on “How to Think Like a Futurist” urged listeners to anticipate the impact of new technologies and to build strategic plans that harness their potential applications.
• March 28, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Dr. Ameena Al-Sumati publishes an op-ed in Al Ittihad on the need for robustly planned transportation infrastructure as the UAE integrates electric vehicles in its sustainability initiatives.
• March 31, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Dr. Ameena Al-Sumati’s work on smart homes and smart cities is featured in Energy & Utilities. The article covers the webinar on “Making Electricity Safe and Accessible” that Dr. Ameena co-hosted in February.
• April 6, 2023
  • Five NEP Alumni and participants speak to the graduating cohort of interns at Mubadala’s internship iftar. Their panel discussion explained why COP28 will be “the COP of action” through the involvement of youth, both through dedicated activities and in the larger decision-making process.
    • NEP 2.0 Fellows Omar Al Braiki and Ali Alshimmari
    • NEP 2.0 alumnae Taif Al Amiri and Azza AlRaisi
    • NEP 3.0 participant Saood Al Noori
• April 10, 2023
  • Four members of the NEP family highlight the pressing need to protect our planet in the “Together We Thrive Sustainably” gathering by Youth Clicks, organized by the TAQA Youth Council. NEP 3.0’s Maitha Al Hameli and Fellows Abdulla Al Remeithi and Ali Alshimmari are members of the Sustainability Experts Network, an initiative that drives public participation in national sustainability efforts. With NEP 1.0 Fellow Mariam Almeraikhi, they urged the younger generation to be at the forefront of driving change, suggesting concrete actions young people can take to minimize their environmental footprint.
  • NEP 2.0 alumna Kalthoom Ali is selected for the inaugural cohort of the Dubai Future Fellowship, under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Kalthoom joins a select group of innovators who have been called upon to develop forward-thinking solutions that will lead Dubai into the future.
• April 11, 2023
  • The NEP 3.0 cohort and 13 NEP alumni attend the NEP Community Iftar alongside representatives from Mubadala and the NEP Team. Hosted by NEP’s legacy partner Mubadala at the Rosewood Hotel in Abu Dhabi, attendees enjoy an evening of gathering and conversation in the company of NEP Program Director H.E. Ahmed T. Al Shamsi, NEP Group Mentor H.E. Homaid Al Shimmari, and H.E. Saeed Al Zaabi, Advisor to the Chairman’s Office at the Office of Strategic Affairs.
• April 12, 2023
  • NEP 1.0 Fellow Mariam Almeraikhi is interviewed about the UAE’s sustainability drive The Maz Hakim Podcast on Virgin Radio Dubai. As a member of the Year of Sustainability working team, Mariam emphasized the importance of individual and collective effort in reaching the UAE’s green goals.
    • "It always starts with the individual, which then affects the community, and then it affects the environment. You can't have a sustainable environment without each individual doing their part." – Mariam Almeraikhi
• April 13, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Dr. Ameena Al-Sumati is profiled in Khaleej Times as an award-winning scientist who hopes to inspiring a generation of STEM professionals and holds lofty ambitions to contribute to the UAE’s future.
    • “It is my ambition to make a positive impact that will benefit the country and future generations.” – Dr. Ameena Al-Sumaiti
  • NEP 2.0 Fellows Omar Al Braiki, Sultan Al Junaibi, and Ali Alshimmari attend an MBZ Majlis lecture with Steve Cockram, keynote speaker, author, and professional coach. His talk on ”Learning to Lead and Win in the New World” explored leadership in the digital age.
• April 20, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Waheeda AlHadhrami shares interventions and best practices from the UAE's creative economy in a G20 Culture Working Group webinar on Culture and Sustainable Development, organized by UNESCO.
• May 1, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Abdulla Alshehhi discusses the UAE as an emerging force in the global space industry in Fast Company Middle East, citing public-private partnerships as a key enabler of the sector’s growth.
    • “By creating a strong business environment for space-focused companies, the UAE can help attract investment and encourage the development of new technologies in the space sector.” – Abdulla Alshehhi
• May 7, 2023
  • Fast Company Middle East names NEP 3.0 participant Saood Al Noori as one of the most creative people in business. 
• May 8-10, 2023
  • NEP 3.0 participant Saood Al Noori speaks in the “Pathway to COP28” panel discussion in the region’s first Youth Energy Forum, part of the World Utilities Congress. The panel underscored the importance of youth participation in sustainability efforts as the UAE prepares to host the annual climate summit in November
    • "COP28 in the UAE will be a milestone opportunity for the world to come together and drive bold, inclusive, and action-oriented progress. Youth will be at the core of our agenda, and as future leaders, they can turn challenges into opportunities and spark positive change for a better tomorrow." – Saood Al Noori
  • During the YEF panel discussion on "The Future of the UAE and Korea's Energy Sectors," NEP 2.0 Fellow Ali Alshimmari shares insights on the progress both countries have made in transitioning to clean energy sources.
  • Finally, H.E. Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, Program Director of NEP, and NEP Group Mentor H.E. Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer of Mubadala, talk to youth attending YEF about why having a mentor is important for their development.
    • "For young professionals who are developing their careers, having a mentor is crucial. Mentors provide more than just inspiration; they offer guidance and support during the most challenging times. By learning from their mentors, young individuals can expand their skills, gain new insights, and reach new heights in their careers." – H.E. Ahmed T. Al Shamsi
• May 14, 2023
  • NEP 2.0 alumna H.E. Asma Al Azri is interviewed by Al Ittihad on her efforts to raise the quality of family life for Emiratis.
• May 15, 2023
  • The ten NEP Fellows collaborate on an op-ed identifying the top 10 trends driving sustainability in the UAE, from sustainable investing to harnessing technology for food security and clean air. The piece is published in English in Economy Middle East and in Arabic in Al Ittihad, among other outlets.