SHAPE MENA 2025

 7:30 - 8:00 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Mezzanine

The activity highlights how innovation can drive impactful social collaboration while inviting feedback to shape the platform's continued evolution. The content will be the effect of climate change on air travel and what are some potential solutions.

Participants are able to select certain solutions and see in real-time how that solution is contributing.

 8:00 - 8:50 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Mezzanine - Neom Hall 2&3

• Welcome Remarks
• Global Shapers Community Introduction
• Purpose Circle Activity

 09:00 - 10:00 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - NEOM Hall 2&3

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Qiddiya Hall

This session uses interactive exercises to help participants step outside their comfort zones in a safe and supportive environment. Through reflection and practice, participants will explore strategies to feel more at ease with discomfort and expand their personal boundaries.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Diriyah Hall 

Together we will explore the meaning of resilience, and uncover strategies to develop emotional resilience and thrive in the face of adversity.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Red Sea Hall

Join us for a hands-on exploration of resilience where we transform natural materials into paint and learn how we can foster both personal growth and environmental stewardship. Through interactive activities, an introduction to permaculture, and self-reflection, you’ll uncover how nature’s regenerative power can inspire creative solutions to life’s challenges.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Al Ula Hall 1

This interactive session guides participants to explore their purpose by reflecting on meaningful moments in their lives, the causes they care about, and the legacy they wish to create. Through personal reflections guided by the “Tree of Life”, group discussions, and a collaborative “Purpose Web” activity, participants will identify their values, what drives them and commit to a small, actionable step that aligns with their aspirations.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - NEOM Hall 2&3

This engaging and interactive workshop is designed to help participants discover their personal values, strengths, and aspirations. Through a dynamic, gamified experience, attendees will also develop essential professional skills, empowering them to create a more balanced and fulfilling life.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Al Ula Hall 2

The workshop aims to help Shapers discover and articulate their unique value proposition. The session includes practical exercises for crafting a compelling personal narrative.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - NEOM Hall 4

This session will be a space for the shapers to engage and explore innovative ways of making our communities more inclusive and the role of language in social development, with an emphasis on Arabic language.

 10:15 - 11:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - NEOM Hall 1

An engaging and interactive workshop designed to empower youth to align their passions with purpose, navigate change with resilience, and contribute to a flourishing, inclusive society through shared stories, dreams, and collaboration.

 11:30 - 12:30 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Registration Table

The activity highlights how innovation can drive impactful social collaboration while inviting feedback to shape the platform's continued evolution. The content will be the effect of climate change on air travel and what are some potential solutions.

Participants are able to select certain solutions and see in real-time how that solution is contributing.

 14:30 - 15:30 |  Alahsa Farm

As part of the Al-Ahsa farm experience, we will provide dishes from Al-Ahsa’s heritage and live cooking of some dishes such as Mandi and Al-Ahsa’i red bread, and a varied buffet of food that suit all tastes.

 15:30 - 17:00 |  Alahsa Farm

During our stay at the farm, there will be more than 6 craftsmen performing their crafts in front of everyone, crafts that come from the region’s heritage, allowing guests to experience the handicrafts. They are as follows:

1. Pottery
2. Palm frond craft
3. Henna
4. Red bread
5. Bisht weaving. 

 17:30 - 19:30 |  Alahsa Downtown

Discover the rich culture, crafts, and traditions that make AlAhsa Oasis a UNESCO treasure.

 20:00 - 23:00 |  Garah Mountain

The last stop on the trip is Jabal Al Qara, which will be divided into several activities including a tour inside the mountain cave, a tour of the squares adjacent to the cave, a relaxation session between the mountain, listening to folk performances and the oud, in addition to an area for board games. 

 7:30 - 8:00 |  Holiday Inn & Suites - Registration Table

The activity highlights how innovation can drive impactful social collaboration while inviting feedback to shape the platform's continued evolution. The content will be the effect of climate change on air travel and what are some potential solutions.

Participants are able to select certain solutions and see in real-time how that solution is contributing.

 9:15 - 9:45 |  KFUPM Building 70

• Welcome Remarks
• Purpose Circle Activity

 9:45 - 10:30 |  KFUPM Building 70

 11:30 - 12:30 |  KFUPM Building 70

Under Navigating Regional Transformations: This panel aims to explore how youth can navigate the ongoing regional transformations, and adapt to them with resilience. Where speakers from the Young Global Leaders (YGL) community will share their inspiring stories in navigating such transformations with resilience.  

 12:30 - 13:30 |  KFUPM Building 60

The activity highlights how innovation can drive impactful social collaboration while inviting feedback to shape the platform's continued evolution. The content will be the effect of climate change on air travel and what are some potential solutions.

Participants are able to select certain solutions and see in real-time how that solution is contributing.

 13:30 - 14:30 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 100

Presented by UNFPA

This dynamic panel discussion will explore the concept of the demographic dividend,

unpack what the concept means for young people, what makes it work and its significance for

youth in the MENA region, showcasing inspiring examples of

Youth-led innovation and how it can contribute to achieving the demographic dividend. By

featuring young innovators as role models from different sectors—health tech, femtech, green

transition, and start-ups doing social good—we will explore the power of youth in shaping the

future of the MENA region.

 14:45 - 16:00 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 100

Presented by UNFPA

The Simultaneous Innovation Hackathons designed to inspire and direct participants towards leveraging the distinctive GCC ecosystem for enhanced SDG achievement. These sessions will

be facilitated by selected global shapers who are currently working professionals in the specified sectors.

The workshops will enable young people to unpack what the “Demographic Dividend” concept means practically to them, as they navigate their lives and youth, and define pathways and actions that can help them contribute to unleash its potential. The primary goal of each workshop is to develop practical, implementable concepts that participants can adapt to their individual contexts and environments. Skills-matching As the Global Shapers are highly skilled and talented young individuals (+25 years) it is key to hone into participants unique skills-set (some are drone specialists, engineers, technical experts in specific fields etc) and match them with the issues identified so they truly work on issues they are passionate about and are inspired to make a tangible contribution in their communities while also further advancing their own skills, as part of GCC workplan.

Group 1: Youth Engagement and Empowerment

Group 2: Education and Skills Development

Group 3: Young People’s Health and Wellbeing

 13:30 - 15:00 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 102

Presented by Google

The session will explore Google's journey in Saudi Arabia, highlighting key initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Participants will gain insights into the Google Developer Community, a global network of over 1 million members, and learn about Google Cloud Center of Excellence certifications and training programs designed to empower youth in the Kingdom. The Google Cloud Centre of Excellence has trained more than 27,000+ learners till now.

 15:15 - 16:00 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 102

Presented by Google

Mais is a Google Developer Expert in Flutter and Dart, and co-leads the GDG Cloud Saudi and Women Techmakers Saudi communities, boasting over 7,000 members. With a proven track record of delivering impactful talks, workshops, and leading large-scale community events, Mais will share valuable insights on cultivating leadership qualities within the tech industry. This session will cover essential skills like public speaking and effective leadership strategies. Mais will also discuss her personal journey as a Google Developer Expert, highlighting how this program has fostered her professional growth and provided invaluable experiences. 

 13:45 - 14:30 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 104

Presented By Sync Program, King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture

Digital well-being is concerned with technology’s impact (positive and negative) on physical, psychological, and social health. The many ways digital technology promotes human flourishing (e.g., social connection, education, telemedicine and more) are clear. However, technology can also have unintended detrimental effects on all aspects of health and wellbeing. This is an increasingly critical public health concern as our daily lives become ever-more digitized and intertwined/entangled with new and emerging technological innovations. Many nations within the MENA region aspire to next-level connectivity, with forward-looking developments that integrate groundbreaking technologies, leveraging emergent computing capabilities to improve the lives of residents and visitors. This commitment to getting the most from digital technology while mitigating risks and remaining deeply human-centric underscores the ultimate goals of digital wellbeing. This session will explore this increasingly important concern, identifying ways we might enhance digital well-being for all.

 14:45 - 16:00 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 104

Presented By Sync Program, King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture

This engaging, practical and interactive workshop explores one of the most pressing challenges of our age: how can we obtain maximum benefits from tech, while mitigating its risks and negative impacts? From behavioral addiction to misinformation tech poses problems alongside its innumerable benefits. In this session we will explore ways in which we might find digital balance and recalibrate our relationships with tech.

 13:30 - 14:30 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 105

An exploration of Saudi Arabia's transformative economic reforms under Vision 2030, emphasizing the crucial role of youth empowerment. The discussion will highlight challenges encountered in these reforms and potential solutions and opportunities that can facilitate successful economic transformation. 

 14:45 - 16:00 |  KFUPM Building 60 - Lecture Hall 105

Are you interested in unlocking the foundations of social entrepreneurship and learn how to build sustainable business models that tie back to our Vision & global goals? Join us for this interactive workshop to learn more!

 16:30 - 19:45 |  King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture - Ithra

A tour around Ithra, a main landmark in the Eastern Province that offers amazing architecture, fascinating museum, and unique exhibitions on display.

 20:00 - 22:00 |  Plaza Conference Center

After a memorable journey in SHAPE MENA, let's take a moment to rewind, reflect on the amazing times, and cherish the memories we made with each other.