His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, chaired the Council's meeting for the year 2026, in the presence of the council's members. The meeting reviewed a number of strategic initiatives and projects on the agenda and adopted a number of recommendations and decisions aimed at continuing to develop the youth and sports sector, improving quality of life, and enhancing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s standing in the fields of youth empowerment and sport.

His Highness opened the meeting by congratulating Bahraini youth on International Youth Day, affirming that this occasion is a source of pride in the outstanding achievements of Bahraini youth across various fields, thanks to the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. His Highness affirmed that the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports continues to work in accordance with a national vision centred on investing in people, promoting initiatives based on scientific studies and indicators, and developing programmes that meet the aspirations of Bahraini youth, in line with the royal vision achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. His Highness stressed the importance of coordination among various government bodies to achieve the best results and maximise the social impact of national initiatives.

The Council was briefed on the initiative to issue a special visa for professional athletes, which aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the entry and residence of professional athletes and their family members, which will contribute to developing the professional sports system, safeguard athletes’ rights, streamline administrative procedures, support national clubs and enhance the competitiveness of the sports sector in the Kingdom.

The Council directed to finalise the necessary procedures to approve the initiative, and tasked the General Sports Authority with coordinating with the Ministry of Interior and relevant authorities in this regard, to ensure the provision of an advanced regulatory environment that supports the development of professional sport.

The Council also reviewed the initiative to promote health and quality of life through calorie awareness, emphasising the importance of continuing to implement national programmes that raise health awareness, establish a culture of healthy eating, and encourage the community to adopt healthy lifestyles, to positively impact quality of life and support national efforts aimed at promoting public health and prevention.

In this context, the Council directed the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, to take the necessary measures to examine the implementation of a system for disclosing the calories of food served in restaurants, and to develop an appropriate monitoring system and enforcement mechanisms, supported by the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance and promote public health. The Council also discussed legislative amendments aimed at enhancing opportunities for young people in the labour market, in accordance with the directives of HH the Chairman of the Council, on  finding the best ways to equip young people with the skills and experience necessary to enter the labour market, and to expand the career opportunities available to them.

In this context, the Minister of Labour outlined a number of proposals aimed at developing the labour market system, enhancing its resilience, extending the scope of social security protection, and improving mechanisms for accessing unemployment benefits, which supports the stability of workers and jobseekers. The Council emphasised the importance of continuing to develop relevant legislation to keep pace with changes in the labour market, train young people and equip them with practical experience, and enhance their opportunities for participation and sustainable presence in the labour market. As part of the Council’s focus on youth empowerment, it reviewed the fifteenth edition of ‘Youth City 2030’, which presents a renewed vision centred on the skills of the future, innovation, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and national identity, helping prepare young people for the demands of the future and providing an integrated environment that fosters creativity, excellence and creating opportunities.

The Council emphasised the importance of continuing to develop the City and maximising its national impact, which reinforces its status as one of the prominent national initiatives in youth empowerment and capacity building. At the conclusion of the meeting, His Highness directed to monitor the implementation of the Council’s decisions and recommendations, and their impact assessed periodically to ensure the achievement of the desired objectives. His Highness emphasised that the coming phase requires continuing to work as a unified team, accelerating the implementation of high-quality initiatives and strengthening partnerships between various stakeholders, to solidify the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position as a leading model for investment in youth and sports and fulfill the aspirations of the leadership for a more prosperous future.