Doha: The Ministry of Sports and Youth (MSY), in cooperation with the National Statistics Center (NSC) at the National Planning Council and GCC-Stat, honored the winners of the inaugural Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data during a ceremony held Saturday to mark Gulf Youth Day.
The event celebrated outstanding achievements by Gulf youth in the fields of data analytics, artificial intelligence, open data, and predictive modeling, while also recognizing members of the award’s organizing and judging committees.
The ceremony was attended by HE Secretary-General of the National Planning Council Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Eng. Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, HE Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat Khalid bin Ali bin Salem Al Sunaidi, along with senior officials, experts, and specialists in data, statistics, and artificial intelligence.
In the Statistical Analysis and Data Visualization category, Abdullah Mohammed Al Haddad of Qatar secured first place for his project “The Buffer and the Burden.” Khulood Mishari Al Ajmi of Kuwait won second place with “Malath Pro,” while Ruqayyah bint Mohammed Al Khaifiyah of Oman placed third with “Skills Compass.”
In the Open Data-Based Solutions category, Oman’s Nasser bin Saeed Al Shukaili claimed first place for “STEP,” followed by compatriot Mujahid bin Mohammed Al Suwaiti in second place for “Orca.” Nawaf bin Saud Al Rashdi of Oman earned third place for “RealTime Dashboard Report.”
The AI Applications category saw Mohammed bin Khamis Al Farsi of Oman take first place with “One Stop Intelligence.” Qatar’s Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Harqan finished second with “Gulf Career Compass,” while Noura Hamad Al Hajri of Qatar secured third place for her project examining GCC students’ career and academic preferences in light of Vision 2030 objectives.
In the Data Foresight and Predictive Models category, Saudi Arabia’s Atheer bint Abdullah Al Harbi won first place with “Maeesh Tech.” Oman’s Amna bint Saif Al Raisi placed second for “Riwaa,” while Shamsa Mohammed Al Mheiri of the United Arab Emirates earned third place for “AI Agent.”
The award is part of MSY’s broader efforts to empower Gulf youth and strengthen their participation in data science and emerging technologies. Open to participants aged 18 to 34, the competition attracted high-quality entries showcasing innovative approaches to data analytics, AI applications, digital solutions, and statistical innovation, reflecting growing regional interest in the digital economy and future-focused skills development.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Al Khalifa stressed that true strength in today’s world lies in the ability to access, interpret, and transform data into knowledge that supports prosperity and sustainable development. He emphasized that data should serve people and improve quality of life, noting that the National Planning Council views reliable data as a cornerstone of effective planning and informed decision-making.
He described the award as an investment in a new generation of Gulf innovators capable of turning knowledge into value, data into vision, and ideas into practical solutions that address societal challenges and contribute to sustainable development.
For his part, Al Jamal congratulated the winners, saying their achievements reflect the remarkable progress Gulf youth are making in leveraging data and advanced technologies to support their communities and contribute to building a knowledge-based economy.
He noted that organizing the ceremony on Gulf Youth Day underscores the ministry’s commitment to investing in young talent and aligns with the GCC Youth and Sports Ministers’ Action Plan (2024–2030), which seeks to expand youth engagement in innovation-driven programs and enhance knowledge outputs with lasting developmental impact.
Director-General of the National Statistics Center Ahmed Hassan Al Obaidly described the award as an important Gulf platform for directing youth toward future-oriented fields, noting that data has become a fundamental pillar of planning, policymaking, and decision-making.
HE Director-General of GCC-Stat Intisar bint Abdullah Al Wuhaibiyah praised the success of the award’s first edition, describing it as one of the region’s leading initiatives for engaging young people in statistics, data, and AI. She emphasized that investing in youth capabilities remains essential to building advanced statistical systems that support development and informed decision-making across GCC countries.
Speaking to QNA, Director of the Social and Environmental Statistics Department at the National Planning Council Ibrahim Hamad Al Mohannadi said the award provides a platform for young innovators to develop smart, data-driven solutions to community challenges. He stressed that artificial intelligence and data analysis are critical tools for shaping the future and advancing sustainable development.
Also speaking to QNA, Assistant Research Professor at Qatar University’s Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) and judging committee member Dr. Ali Al Kubaisi said the award demonstrated the ability of Gulf youth to harness AI and open data effectively across a range of sectors. He noted that participants successfully developed practical solutions capable of supporting public policy and sustainable development efforts throughout the GCC.
The Youth Creativity Award in the World of Data aims to strengthen Gulf cooperation in data, information, and artificial intelligence, encourage the development of innovative solutions and products, highlight successful youth role models, and promote awareness of the vital role data and statistics play in supporting development and evidence-based policymaking.
Source: QNA
