Muscat – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) has opened registration for the fourth edition of the Youth Ambassadors Programme, which will bring together up to 160 young participants in Muscat in November for training in diplomacy, leadership and international affairs.

Organised by MCSY, the programme will also expand participation from countries outside Oman following three editions that drew Omani and Arab youth. Participants will attend meetings with diplomats, workshops conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, protocol and etiquette training, and a Model United Nations simulation.

The programme will also feature a diplomatic dinner, daily bulletin and cultural tours, combining classroom training with practical exposure to diplomatic processes.

Hilal bin Saif Al Siyabi (in the photo above), Director General of Youth at the ministry, said the initiative aims to develop diplomatic and leadership skills while strengthening awareness of international issues. 

He said participants would also receive training in public speaking, communication, media engagement and public appearance, helping prepare young Omanis to represent the country at regional and international forums.

The Foreign Ministry and international organisations will support parts of the programme.

Malak bint Malik Al Musallamani (in the photo above), who took part in the third edition, said the experience taught her “the importance of listening before speaking and researching before adopting any position”. She said the programme improved her negotiation, persuasion and public-speaking skills while showing participants that diplomacy was about “building bridges and finding common ground”.

Aisha bint Khalid Al Busaidi, who participated in the second edition, said the programme strengthened her skills in diplomacy, dialogue and decision-making, while reinforcing the importance of teamwork.

The ministry said the programme is intended to give young people practical exposure to international decision-making and create networks that can support their academic and professional development.