DUBAI (Hatha Alyoum) — Areen Masrour Barzani officially launched a new youth leadership program on Thursday during the World Government Summit in Dubai, asserting that "leadership readiness" is a critical national asset comparable in importance to a country's physical infrastructure.
Speaking at a session attended by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and senior officials, Areen Barzani outlined a strategic vision for youth empowerment, drawing heavily on his military training to define modern leadership requirements in an era of rapid technological disruption.
Discipline and the 'Kurdish Resilience' Reflecting on his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Barzani described the rigorous discipline required to build character, emphasizing that the ability to handle major responsibilities stems from the consistent execution of smaller tasks. He recounted the grueling "Long Reach" exercise in the UK’s Brecon Beacons, where he and his unit covered 72 kilometers in 36 hours under severe weather conditions.
He used this experience to highlight the necessity of resilience, linking the trait directly to his heritage. "You don’t always need to hold a position of power to develop traits such as discipline and resilience," Barzani stated. "It is worth mentioning that as Kurds, we are by default resilient."
Navigating the AI Era Addressing the challenges posed by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing, Barzani warned that the pace of change is accelerating, leading to the potential "outdating of skills" and the faster spread of misinformation.
He argued that future leaders must rely on a foundation of "values, adaptability, and integrity" to navigate these uncertainties. "Integrity is judged not by what we do when others are watching, but by what we do when we believe no one is watching," he said, noting that while AI can replace tasks, it cannot replace human judgment and ethical grounding.
Building Leaders Before Crises The session marked the formal inauguration of the "Areen Masrour Barzani Leadership Program," developed in collaboration with the UAE’s Government Experience Exchange Office. The initiative will train an initial cohort of 20 candidates over a four-month period.
Barzani concluded his remarks by stressing the urgency of proactive leadership development. "Crisis is not what builds roads, hospitals, and digital systems," he said. "In the same way, we cannot wait for a challenge to arise to find leaders. We need to build them through mentorship and real experience."