Abu Dhabi, 23 September 2026: The Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) is leading the EmiratesSkills team in its participation in the 48th WorldSkills Competition, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, which will take place in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, from 22-27 September, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and skilled young people.
The UAE will be represented by 17 young Emirati competitors who will compete across 16 technical and vocational skills. Their participation reflects ACTVET’s ongoing efforts to identify Emirati talent, develop their capabilities, and prepare them to compete according to the highest international standards.
The WorldSkills Competition is the world’s largest international event dedicated to technical and vocational skills. WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will bring together approximately 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions, competing across 64 skills. The event provides a global platform that brings together outstanding young talent and facilitates the exchange of expertise and best practices in technical and vocational education and training.
His Excellency Dr Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, said: “The EmiratesSkills team’s participation in this global competition reflects the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to invest in Emirati youth and empower them with advanced skills that strengthen their readiness for the future and their ability to compete globally.
“As we head from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai, we do so with great national ambition and strong confidence in the ability of Emirati youth to represent the UAE with distinction on one of the world’s most important skills platforms. At ACTVET, we have built an integrated system to identify national talent, develop their capabilities, and prepare them according to the highest international standards, enabling them to compete and excel in advanced technical and vocational fields.
“The participation of our young men and women across 16 skills is an important opportunity to showcase the advanced capabilities of Emirati talent, gain valuable international experience, and compete alongside the world’s best young talents. We are confident that our team members will represent the UAE with pride and responsibility, reflecting the ambition of our nation’s youth and their determination to achieve excellence and leadership.”
This participation builds on 20 years of EmiratesSkills efforts to develop a specialised national ecosystem for identifying and nurturing talent, fostering a culture of skills and innovation among young people, and strengthening the UAE’s presence in regional and international competitions.
Members of the EmiratesSkills team undergo intensive training and preparation programmes designed to develop their technical and practical capabilities and enhance their readiness to meet the requirements and standards of global competition.
The WorldSkills Competition is held every two years and brings together outstanding young talent across a wide range of technical and vocational disciplines. It serves as an international platform that reinforces the role of skills in supporting economic and social development and contributes to advancing technical and vocational education and training standards worldwide.
