Emirates Foundation, the national foundation of the UAE established to facilitate public-private partnerships for empowering youth, and energy leader Shell, have celebrated a decade of partnership with a commitment to nurturing youth innovation in the UAE and the growth of a STEM Learning Ecosystems, which provide the architecture for cross-sector learning in the country.

As part of its continued commitment to youth in the UAE, Shell will be actively supporting the foundation’s various initiatives, particularly in the areas of STEM, capacity building and community engagement.

Shell’s longstanding partnership with Emirates Foundation, which is in line with the global energy company’s social investment vision, dates to the foundation’s inception in 2005 under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Ali Al Janabi, Country Chair, Shell Abu Dhabi, said, " We are very proud to have been an active partner of the Emirates Foundation since its inception. We believe that the foundation makes a real impact on UAE youth by equipping them with skills, interest and passion to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and innovators and ultimately contributing to the UAE Vision. By participating actively in the life of the foundation, we are not only able to witness the impact first-hand, but are also able to stay connected with the UAE youth and understand their challenges and aspirations."

Clare Woodcraft, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said, "As a foundation, we believe strongly in the power of collaboration with the private sector to create a culture of innovation among youth.

Our partnership with Shell demonstrates our joint commitment to this goal with initiatives that foster the growth of a STEM Learning Ecosystem, and nurture a growing talent pool of engineers and scientists, harnessing Shell’s leadership in technology and engineering.

"Our ability to inspire and encourage talented individuals to pursue their passion for science is essential to building the country’s future industry innovators," she concluded.