Millions of young people in Arab countries suffer exclusion in many areas. The aspects of this exclusion include rising unemployment, low qualifications, exacerbated illiteracy and the decline of social and political participation. Those conditions impede the progress of young people and reduce the possibility of their integration in society. They also hinder taking advantage of the ‘demographic window’ in the countries of the region and of the varied human potential that youth represents, consequently leading to slowing national and regional development.