Saudi Arabia, represented by a national delegation led by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), participated in the 2025 Global Youth Summit. The summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the theme “Amplifying Youth Voices in ICT for an Inclusive and Connected Future,” took place from March 11-13 in Varadero, Cuba. The event was attended by the President of Cuba and featured delegations from various countries and organizations affiliated with the United Nations that focus on youth empowerment. The Saudi delegation played an active role in the summit’s preparation and opening, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to empowering youth as a key pillar of growth and development in the communications, space, and technology sectors. Notably, Ms. Shahad Al-Balawi, Director of International Representation at CST, served as Head of the Summit Coordination Team, while Engineer Rakan Al-Anazi represented Arab Youth Envoys during the summit’s proceedings. The Kingdom’s participation included several panel discussions covering topics such as youth priorities, digital empowerment of women leaders, and advancements in AI.
The Global Youth Summit serves as a global platform for dialogue between youth, stakeholders, and decision-makers. It focuses on addressing the needs and aspirations of young people in the communications, space, and technology sectors to support their educational, social, and economic development. The summit also promotes youth engagement and leverages young minds to address emerging digital challenges. As part of the ITU’s “Generation Connect” initiative, that engage global youth and encourage their participation to achieve the ITU’s objectives. The initiative includes appointing regional youth envoys to collaborate with the ITU, ensuring a meaningful global and regional impact on youth-related issues.