The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States (Social Affairs Sector – Youth and Sports Administration, Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Youth and Sports Ministers), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Iraq, is organising the meetings of the technical committees supporting the Council (Youth, Sports, and Finance) on 29 January. These meetings will be followed by the 71st session of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Youth and Sports Ministers, scheduled for 30 January in the Republic of Iraq.
The Executive Office session will be chaired by His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chairman of the Executive Office of the Council, with the participation of member states, including the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Tunisia, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Iraq, the State of Palestine, the State of Kuwait, the State of Libya, and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector, stated that the League of Arab States remains steadfast in its efforts to empower Arab youth and enhance their role in all aspects of development. Recognising that youth are the driving force behind societal progress, she highlighted the importance of fostering their leadership skills, equipping them with the necessary capabilities, and investing in their potential to ensure sustainable development. She added that governments worldwide are prioritising youth empowerment to prepare them for future leadership roles and to confront the challenges facing Arab youth today. In this regard, Arab governments—particularly the Ministers of Youth and Sports—should assume a leading role in harnessing the energy of young people as a vital human resource for nation-building and regional development.
Ambassador Abu Ghazaleh further noted that the 48th session of the Council of Arab Youth and Sports Ministers will convene on 31 January under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Hussein Al-Mubarqa, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Iraq, as the host country.
Her Excellency elaborated that the session’s agenda will encompass a range of key issues, including the adoption of the executive plan for the Arab Strategy for Youth, Peace, and Security; the Arab Youth Parliament simulation model; and several key initiatives such as the 20th Meeting of Arab Capital Youth in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab Forum for Caving and Mountain Sports in the Republic of Tunisia, and the forum on The Role of Youth in Social Change and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development in the Federal Republic of Somalia. Other significant items include a training course on volunteer work in the Kingdom of Morocco, follow-ups on the outcomes of the Eighth Arab-European Youth Forum and the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum, the designation of the Arab Youth Capital for 2025, and prominent programmes such as the Holy Sites Journey for Arab Youth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Nile Ship for Arab Youth in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Conference for Supporting Jerusalem and Its Islamic and Christian Sanctities in the State of Palestine. Additionally, the session will discuss the Excellence Award for Arab Youth 2025.
The agenda also features a variety of sports activities, including the Sports Legislation and Regulations Course in the State of Palestine, the Arab Women’s Sports Festival in the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the League of Arab States Cup Championship for Embassies, Baghdad: The Arab Sports Culture Capital 2025, and preparations for the 16th Arab Sports Games 2027 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Her Excellency reaffirmed the commitment of the Social Affairs Sector (Youth and Sports Administration – Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Youth and Sports Ministers) to maintaining continuous coordination with Arab Ministries of Youth and Sports. She emphasised the Secretariat’s role as a central hub for exchanging information and expertise, facilitating collaboration among Arab countries, and supporting the development of current and future youth programmes aimed at empowering young people across the Arab world.
