Ministers of Planning and Youth and Sport Discuss Funding for the Rehabilitation of Sports Facilities in Aden

20 July 2026

Aden – Saba

A joint meeting held today in the temporary capital, Aden, attended by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr Afrah Al-Zuba, and the Minister of Youth and Sport, Nayef Saleh Al-Bakri, discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation to mobilise local and international funding and implement the projects and programmes of the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

The meeting reviewed the Ministry’s national plan and the mechanisms for securing the necessary funding for its implementation, as well as channelling support from international organisations towards programmes for women’s empowerment and youth rehabilitation and training, thereby contributing to the development of young people’s capabilities in various fields.

The meeting also addressed the funding and rehabilitation of damaged sports facilities, foremost among them the 22 May Stadium, and the possibility of constructing an Olympic-sized swimming pool in the capital, Aden, in addition to supporting automation and digital transformation programmes to enhance the Ministry’s institutional performance.

Minister Al-Zuba emphasised that the youth and sport sectors are a priority within development initiatives, reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to working with partners and donors to secure the necessary funding for vital projects and rehabilitation programmes, thereby enhancing the capabilities of young people and athletes and improving institutional performance.

For his part, Minister Al-Bakri emphasised the importance of the partnership with the Ministry of Planning, stressing the need to mobilise support for the rehabilitation of sports infrastructure and the implementation of projects aimed at empowering young people and women, as well as digital transformation, as these are among the Ministry’s current priorities.

The two sides agreed to draw up a joint, time-bound roadmap to enhance coordination between the two ministries and to translate the meeting’s outcomes into practical steps that serve the youth and sport sectors.

The meeting was attended by a number of undersecretaries and officials from both ministries.