RIYADH: Misk City is poised to be a transformative hub for young people, blending creativity with opportunity, according to the CEO of the Misk Foundation.

“Misk City is not just a place filled with buildings and roads, it is an exceptional place for an exceptional city,” Badr Al-Bader said on the first day of the Misk Global Forum 2024.

The purpose-built destination was committed to fostering talent and innovation, he said.

The eighth Misk Global Forum is showcasing the foundation’s dedication to engaging young minds.

“With over 150,000 visitors and more than 1,000 speakers from 130 countries, this edition was notable for its youthful demographic,” Al-Bader said.

“This is the largest and smallest in terms of average age. We are proud to see so many young voices contributing to the dialogue.”

This year, Misk City welcomed students from Misk Schools and plans to extend its reach to schools across Riyadh and beyond.

“The city mirrors the youth growing alongside them, day by day. Misk has been empowering and investing in youth, making their support its highest priority,” Al-Bader said.

With the “unwavering support” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, more than 7 million young men and women had benefited from Misk programs, he said.

Kadi Al-Khathaam, the Saudi winner of the 2024 Arab Reading Challenge, was part of the “Leadership in a Future-Led Generation” panel at the forum.

“Reading is a transformation phase and it’s an enlightenment process where I can expand the horizon of my knowledge,” she said.

“Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance.”

Al-Khathaam said that the ability to communicate effectively allowed individuals to share their insights and experiences with others.

“I read, I discuss, I give the outcome to the world with the best of what I have.”

The crown prince’s advocacy for the education of all Saudi children was a source of inspiration for her, she said.

Saudi Minister of Communication, Information and Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha shared insights on youth-driven leadership and innovation, in line with the forum’s theme of “By Youth For Youth” and commented on Shawn Achor’s book “The Happiness Advantage.”

“We often link happiness with external factors, but we must realize that happiness and ambition are the main drivers of hard work,” he said.

“Let us take it the other way around: If we work with happiness in our hearts, success will follow.”

Al-Swaha shared the story of Dr. Firas Khalil, the first Saudi surgeon to perform heart surgery using AI and robotics.

“This procedure not only reduces recovery times but also saves lives,” he said.

He also spoke about Rayyanah Barnawi, the Kingdom’s first female astronaut.

“Her love and ambition to serve humanity made her the perfect candidate,” he said.

“Nothing is impossible from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the greatest country in the world.”

The forum ends on Tuesday.