Arab Youth Center Opens Youth Pitches 2026 Applications Worldwide

Arab Youth Center (AYC) has opened global applications for the eighth edition of Youth Pitches, inviting young people aged 18 to 35 to submit ideas and projects addressing water-related challenges.

Applications are open to participants of all nationalities until October 13, 2026. Six teams will ultimately be selected to present their solutions at the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.

This year’s edition focuses on water innovation, with eligible projects covering areas including water security and water use across agriculture, food, infrastructure, industry and communities. Solutions incorporating artificial intelligence, data, devices and other emerging technologies are also eligible.

The initiative is open to startup founders, teams already working on water-related challenges and individuals with ideas and plans to develop products or projects. Projects can be at the planning, launch or growth stage.

H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of AYC, said: “The UAE believes that investing in young people’s capabilities is essential to strengthening communities’ readiness for the future, and that international cooperation delivers greater value when it enables young people to contribute to shared development priorities. The eighth edition of Youth Pitches, with its focus on water, reflects this approach. We seek to empower young innovators to contribute their knowledge and projects to a sector central to sustainable development, food security and economic opportunities for future generations.”

He added: “As the UAE hosts the 2026 UN Water Conference in partnership with the Republic of Senegal, we look forward to expanding youth participation in international cooperation on water and strengthening partnerships that help turn their innovations into practical solutions. We want this edition to lay the foundations for cooperation that continues beyond the conference, connecting innovators with institutions and investors that can adopt their projects and expand their development impact.”

Selected participants will take part in a three-week virtual training program covering mentorship, project development and investment readiness. The third week will focus on the top 20 participating startups as part of an acceleration stage.

The 20 startups will then present their projects virtually to a judging panel, which will select six teams to advance to the finals at the 2026 UN Water Conference. The finalists will present their solutions to a panel comprising strategic partners, water sector leaders, investors and government representatives.

Through the program, AYC also aims to connect participating innovators with institutions, industry expertise and potential investors to support the further development and scaling of their projects.