Eight-member council will give young employees a direct platform to share ideas, engage with senior leadership and contribute to projects shaping the bank’s future

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has launched its first Youth Council, creating a formal platform for young employees to contribute ideas, participate in organisational initiatives and develop the skills needed to take on future leadership roles.

The eight-member council, which was inaugurated on International Youth Day on August 12, will operate for a two-year term. Its members come from diverse backgrounds within the bank and will work through regular meetings, leadership discussions and focused projects.

The initiative is designed to move youth engagement beyond participation by giving emerging talent access to responsibility, senior decision-makers and opportunities to influence the organisation’s development.

Connecting young talent with leadership

Council members will contribute ideas and perspectives across areas including customer experience, employee engagement, brand relevance and innovation. The council will also establish a direct channel between young employees and DIB’s senior leadership.

The launch featured a dialogue between council members and DIB Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Adnan Chilwan under the theme “A Conversation with Future Leaders.” The discussion explored the aspirations of young employees, their potential contribution to the organisation and the role they can play in shaping DIB’s future.

Members also made a pledge to the council, formally beginning their two-year term and committing to active participation.

“Investing in young people is one of the most important investments any institution can make,” said Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of DIB.

He said young people bring “curiosity, ambition and a willingness to look at familiar challenges differently,” adding that organisations have a responsibility to nurture that potential and create environments where young talent can develop into confident and capable professionals.

Supporting UAE youth priorities

The Youth Council reflects the UAE’s National Youth Agenda 2031, which places youth empowerment and the development of young Emirati talent at the centre of the country’s future.

For DIB, the initiative also connects to Dubai’s economic ambitions under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, with the bank highlighting the role of talent, skills and innovation in supporting the emirate’s continued growth.

“As a bank born in the heart of Dubai and grown alongside the city, we also recognise that the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, will ultimately be carried forward by people, through their capabilities, ideas and determination,” Chilwan said.

He added that developing young talent is both an investment in DIB’s future and part of the bank’s responsibility to the wider economy and society.

From participation to practical contribution

Rafia Al Abbar, Head of Human Resources at DIB, said the council would provide a structured way for the bank to understand the opportunities and challenges identified by its younger employees and translate relevant ideas into practical initiatives.

“The value of the Youth Council will ultimately be measured by what it enables our young people to contribute,” she said.

The council forms part of DIB’s wider investment in learning and youth development, which includes DIB Academy and youth financial literacy programmes.

Together, these initiatives are intended to strengthen continuous learning and create opportunities for young people to develop their capabilities, contribute within the workplace and prepare for future leadership.

For the education and employment landscape, DIB’s Youth Council also highlights a growing shift in how organisations approach talent development: rather than preparing young professionals solely through formal training, employers are increasingly giving them opportunities to participate in decision-making, collaborate across functions and gain direct exposure to senior leadership.