Twenty-two Emirati teenagers completed an intensive two-week training programme at the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi this month, gaining practical skills in data science, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity that will shape both their own futures and the broader society they will help govern.
Running from July 13 to 30, 2026, the sixth cohort of the Young Fellows of Statistics Programme brought together students aged 16 to 19 for a curriculum that moved well beyond classroom theory. Participants worked across the entire data pipeline, learning survey design, data collection, analysis, visualization and storytelling. They were also introduced to AI agents, prompt engineering, digital rights and the ethical frameworks required to handle sensitive information responsibly. These are not abstract concepts. They are the foundations of how public institutions and civic infrastructure will increasingly function.
The practical dimension extended beyond individual skill-building. Participants collaborated on group projects, took part in an innovation sprint and presented their findings directly to senior SCAD officials. A visit to Khalifa University gave them exposure to academic pathways and career trajectories in statistics, data science and AI, broadening their sense of what these fields could offer to society.
Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Director General of SCAD, framed the programme’s purpose in terms of generational responsibility. “Every generation shapes the future with the tools of its time. For this generation, data and artificial intelligence are among the most powerful tools they will possess,” he said. “Our responsibility is not simply to teach young people how to use them, but to inspire them to ask better questions, think critically, act responsibly and use evidence to solve challenges that matter to society. Investing in young Emirati talent today is an investment in a smarter, more resilient and more prosperous Abu Dhabi tomorrow.”
That civic framing matters. As governments and public institutions rely more heavily on data to allocate resources, design services and respond to community needs, the capacity of citizens to understand, interrogate and contribute to those systems becomes a public good in itself. A generation trained in statistical reasoning and AI literacy is better positioned to hold institutions accountable and to participate meaningfully in evidence-based decision-making.
Beyond technical competencies, the programme developed communication, critical thinking, leadership and career readiness. The final assessment required each participant to present a project to SCAD leadership, demonstrating their ability to apply data-driven methods to real-world problems.
The growth of the programme signals shifting interest among Emirati youth. When it launched in 2021, the inaugural cohort numbered eight participants. The sixth cohort has nearly tripled that figure to 22, reflecting deepening engagement with statistics, AI and related technologies among young people in the emirate.
SCAD positions the initiative as part of a broader institutional strategy to build a workforce equipped for an economy increasingly dependent on data literacy and AI capability. The centre describes its mission as developing “future-ready national talent capable of transforming trusted data into meaningful insights, supporting informed decision-making and contributing to Abu Dhabi’s continued development as a global leader in the data and AI era.”
Whether the programme continues to grow, and whether its graduates go on to apply these skills in public service, remains the open question worth watching.