YFEL German-Emirati Sustainability Days empower the next generation

The 5th edition of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) – German-Emirati Sustainability Days took place successfully in June 2025 at Khalifa University, marking another important milestone in strengthening collaboration between young Emirati talents, German industry leaders, and key representatives from the public sector.

Organized by AHK and Khalifa University, in close cooperation with the Emirati-German Energy & Climate Partnership, the program brought together participants for inspiring weeks of discussions, technical knowledge sharing, and innovative problem-solving — with a focus on sustainability, decarbonization, and digital transformation in key sectors of the UAE.

The kick-off took place during the Opening Session on 2 June 2025.
As part of this session, a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Redefining the Energy Transition: Going Green in the AI Era” featured executives from the German partner companies Linde, Siemens, and Wilo, who shared their perspectives and experiences on how digital innovation is accelerating decarbonization both globally and locally.

Over the following week, three virtual technical sessions were held with the partner companies. Linde Engineering presented their pioneering work in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), including key projects in Abu Dhabi and hydrogen mobility pilots — demonstrating their strong commitment to reducing emissions in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors.

Siemens Middle East focused on the UAE’s ambitious Net Zero 2050 strategy, highlighting energy efficiency measures in government buildings and the implementation of the Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI) as a benchmarking tool for industrial decarbonization.

Finally, Wilo introduced its innovative Daleel AI technology, which enhances assembly quality through artificial intelligence by detecting missing or incorrect parts, reducing human error, and improving operational efficiency.

Based on these sessions, participating students were tasked with developing solutions to the challenges presented. This hands-on approach encouraged the application of theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts and supported the development of innovative ideas for sustainable technologies.

The program concluded with a final session held at Khalifa University on 19 June 2025, featuring welcome addresses from representatives of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) as well as the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).

The highlight of the afternoon was the student pitch competition, during which teams presented their solutions to the challenges posed by Linde, Siemens, and Wilo. The presentations demonstrated impressive technical understanding and creativity. The jury — made up of experts from Linde, Siemens, Wilo, and Guidehouse — had the challenging task of evaluating the quality and feasibility of the pitches. All teams delivered well-founded and convincing presentations, showcasing technical expertise, teamwork, and communication skills.

This year also marked an important milestone: the YFEL program celebrated its 15th anniversary and now counts over 600 alumni. Under the UAE’s “Year of Community” theme, the program impressively demonstrates how German-Emirati partnerships in research, industry, and government can support young talent and practically implement global sustainability goals. The Young Future Energy Leaders program continues to serve as a key platform empowering the next generation to actively contribute to a sustainable energy future for the UAE and Germany.