The UAE’s National Youth Strategy looks at the five major transitions in a youth’s life in a 20-year span.  

From ages 15-35, youth transition through these critical stages: 

1. Education
2. Work
3. Adopting a healthy and safe lifestyle
4. Starting a family 
5. Exercising their citizenship.  

FYA invests in youth’s energy, our most valuable resource, by nurturing their character, developing an enabling environment for their growth and development, and maximising their participation.

FYA uses the metaphor of a plant to illustrate their strategy:

• Character in young people is like the roots of a tree, it influences everything we do. Every action, attitude and belief we take is first rooted in our character. This means that the attitudes, beliefs and choices of our youth shape our nation and our world. Character matters the most.
• The UAE is on a mission to cultivate character in youth that builds on our core values of inclusion, tolerance, family and commitment to excellence.
• The stem of the plant is the enabling environment. We provide both, a tangible and intangible environment in terms of physical spaces and enabling government policies for youth. 
• We believe that when we invest in youth, it is similar to watering the plants and providing them with sunlight and good soil. Youth will participate by sharing their talents and skills back into the country, which will build the foundation for the next 50 years of the UAE’s development.