Amman, Aug. 19 (Petra) -- The Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) on Wednesday announced the opening of the Arab Youth Center in Jordan in strategic partnership with the Arab Youth Center in the United Arab Emirates, making it the center's first branch outside the UAE.
The opening ceremony was attended by Youth Minister Raed Adwan, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Arab Youth Center Vice Chairman Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, CPF Board of Trustees Chairman Odai Salamin, and a group of Jordanian and Arab youth.
The CPF will manage the center locally in line with national priorities and the needs of young people, while the Arab Youth Center will support it with its expertise, programs, and regional networks. The partnership is designed to expand opportunities for youth in leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and future skills.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs and chairman of the Arab Youth Center, said the opening marks a new phase in joint Arab youth work.
"Our vision is based on the belief that empowering young people is a shared Arab responsibility that requires sustainable institutions capable of turning ambition into capability, ideas into projects and talent into a development resource," he said. "From this perspective, we are working to build an interconnected ecosystem that gives young people access to knowledge, tools, and networks that expand their opportunities and strengthen their role in shaping the future of their countries." He said Jordan being the first country to host an expansion of the center outside the UAE reflects the depth of the fraternal ties between the UAE and Jordan and the importance both countries attach to youth in their development visions.
"In partnership with the Crown Prince Foundation, we are establishing a model that combines regional expertise with national leadership and connects young people in Jordan with their wider Arab community, expanding the impact of successful initiatives and supporting sustainable development across the region," he said.
Salamin said the opening reflects the depth of the historic and fraternal relations between Jordan and the UAE over decades.
"We are proud that Jordan is the first stop in the Arab Youth Center's regional expansion and value the confidence reflected in this choice," he said, adding that the Jordan center is the result of years of partnership between the Crown Prince Foundation and the Arab Youth Center.
The partnership, he said, has reinforced the two sides' belief that combining efforts creates greater opportunities for young people and that investing in youth is an investment in the future.
Salamin noted that the opening coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Crown Prince Foundation, which embodies the vision of HRH Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and reflects its decade-long work with young people and the tangible impact of its initiatives and programs.
"Our ambition is for the center to be more than just a facility. We want it to be a genuine space led by young people, where they are partners in designing programs, developing initiatives, and building networks and opportunities that extend from Jordan across the Arab world," he said.
The ceremony included a presentation on the two sides' cooperation since 2017, the stages of establishing the center, its operational plans, and upcoming programs, as well as the signing of a commemorative plaque marking its opening.
The center is located at King Abdullah II Gardens in Amman’s Muqabalain area. It includes innovation and digital fabrication labs, business incubators, and creative, educational, and collaborative spaces.
It will focus on leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, youth research, sustainability, and future skills through training and mentoring programs, hands-on labs, and opportunities for networking, learning, and collaborative work.
//Petra// AF
