Speaking at the commemoration of the World Program of Action for Youth, launched 30 years ago, Al-Ibrahim stressed that the younger generation must be at the center of global strategies.

“In a world where many struggle to embrace long-term vision, youth remain the key factor,” he said. “They possess the future more than we ever will. The lessons from our experiences are clear: involve youth, invest in them, and depend on them today.”

Al-Ibrahim highlighted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an example of youth-driven leadership, noting that his transformative vision has helped channel the energy and ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s younger generation into tangible national progress.

“It is not merely about population size, but about leadership,” he added, citing Saudi Vision 2030 as “the best model of long-term planning and sustainable implementation.”

The minister also pointed to global challenges facing young people, warning that nearly half of the world’s population is under 30, yet youth unemployment is three times higher than that of adults. Millions remain outside formal education, training, or employment systems.

Al-Ibrahim cautioned that the global community’s response will determine whether demographic trends become “opportunities that bear fruit or burdens that weigh down the entire global system.”

“Coming from a medical background, I’m naturally optimistic,” Al-Rabeeah told Arab News on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. “With increasing acceptance of Palestine by many countries, particularly in the West, we are moving closer to achieving a durable solution.”

The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, led to the adoption of the New York Declaration—a comprehensive roadmap outlining timebound, actionable steps to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Endorsed by the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support, the declaration provides a multi-dimensional framework covering political governance, security, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, and legal accountability. Key measures include an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reunification with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (excluding Hamas), a temporary UN-led stabilization mission, and a halt to Israeli settlement expansion.

“The people of Palestine have endured immense suffering for many years,” Al-Rabeeah said. “The two-state solution remains the only viable path for long-term peace and a brighter future for Palestinians.”

Al-Rabeeah also highlighted global humanitarian challenges, ahead of a high-level UN meeting on displaced populations. With over 130 million people displaced worldwide and donor fatigue threatening aid efforts, he called for renewed international commitment.

“We face multiple crises — in Sudan, Ukraine, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond,” he noted. “This meeting is essential to highlight the urgency of resolving ongoing crises, preventing new ones, and ensuring a better future for refugees and displaced communities.”