There are camps that end when their days are over… and there are camps that leave a legacy for years to come.

For us, the 33^rd Arab Scout Jamboree was a dream we wanted to make a camp for all Arabs, with a global spirit, and one that would become an unforgettable chapter in the history of Arab Scout Jamborees.

It was the first time the United Arab Emirates had hosted the Arab Scout Jamboree, and the challenge was even greater because we wanted it to be the largest in terms of participation, size, and scale, while also making history as the first Arab Scout Jamboree to be held in a natural reserve — the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.

From the moment the dream began… the planning began.
How do you turn a desert into a city?

We had to take over an empty desert site and transform it, within a limited timeframe, into a fully integrated camp where participants would live for ten days, then return the land to its original state once the event was over.

The camp needed to provide everything: accommodation tents, activity areas, water, electricity, sanitation, healthcare, catering, transportation, events, and logistical services, while meeting sustainability requirements and protecting the natural environment of the reserve.

The challenge was to build a world-class camp… in the heart of the desert.

By the grace of God, the vision became a reality, and the camp emerged at a standard comparable to major international Scout camps.

Then came the challenge of funding and sponsorship…

We dreamed of having the camp held under the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai. With the support of the UAE’s leadership and the efforts of the Emirates Scout Association Board, we were honoured to secure the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

This patronage opened the door to the funding and support needed to deliver the event, as well as a strong network of partners who contributed to creating an exceptional experience for the participants.

The opening ceremony was also honoured by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

With this scale of work came another challenge… human resources.

For the first time, we launched the Arab Support Team, bringing together experienced Scout leaders from different Arab Scout Organizations to provide the expertise and support required by the various teams and committees.

The concept was inspired by the service teams used at major international Scout events. Leaders were selected through a structured process, in coordination with their respective Scout Organizations, with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, rights, obligations, and the required training.

At the same time, we launched a volunteering opportunity within the UAE through the UAE Volunteer Platform, aimed at attracting and developing national Scout talent to support the event and gain experience in managing major events.

And Girl Scouts… another challenge.

We wanted to strengthen the participation of Girl Scouts in the camp for only the second time in the history of Arab Scout Jamborees, following the experience in Algeria.

We had to balance broad Arab participation with the cultural values and traditions of Emirati society, while reassuring parents about the safety and wellbeing of their daughters.

Thanks to the efforts of the male and female Scout leaders, and the commitment of all participants, Scouts and Girl Scouts from across the Arab world came together in Al Marmoom, and the experience concluded without a single incident involving male and female participants.

The camp also had a digital dimension…

We wanted the camp to be managed digitally as much as possible.

We developed an online registration and delegation management platform, launched a dedicated camp application, and introduced digital progress cards through which Scouts could track their participation in activities and programmes.

Leaders and heads of delegation also received real-time reports, while an electronic safeguarding and reporting system was established to support the camp’s safeguarding framework.

Healthcare was another priority.

A fully equipped field hospital and ambulance were provided, supported by advance arrangements for transferring cases requiring more specialised medical care.

And the programme itself was designed as a complete experience.

We aimed to deliver a programme combining education, personal development, Scouting, culture and adventure, all with a global spirit and with the participation of local, federal, regional and international organisations.

This was complemented by visits and activities across several Emirates, giving participants an opportunity to experience the UAE beyond the camp itself.

The event also received extensive media coverage across digital, broadcast, print and other platforms, creating a significant step forward in the Arab and regional visibility of the camp.

But the biggest dream was the scale of participation…

We dreamed of making the camp the largest in terms of numbers, size and participation.

By the grace of God, that dream became reality, with 1,500 Scouts, Girl Scouts, male and female Scout leaders from 19 Arab Scout Organizations taking part.

It was truly… a camp for all Arabs.

As for me… I had the honour of serving as the General Coordinator.

It was a great honour to coordinate this remarkable journey, from the earliest planning stages, working with my colleagues on the Planning Committee, under the supervision and support of the Association’s Board and the Higher Committee, which brought together representatives from local and federal entities — and of which I was also honoured to be a member.

Together with my colleagues and team, I worked throughout the different stages of the camp — from planning, financial management and coordination to event management and, ultimately, the closing of the camp and the return of the land to its original state: an empty desert, with no trace of the event left behind.

I remember standing on the campgrounds one day after the Scouts had left for their activities. The site had suddenly become quiet, except for the tents and the leaders.

In front of me were four Scout camps, a Girl Scout camp, a leaders’ camp, and an activity area bringing together the cultures of the Arab countries.

There were 1,500 participant tents, collectively forming the image of the Ghaf tree, one of the most iconic trees of the UAE’s natural environment, alongside activity tents, restaurants, logistical facilities and the main camp stage.

I looked around and asked myself:

Did we really do it?

As the camp came to an end, we found ourselves looking back at a series of achievements accomplished for the first time in the history of Arab Scout events.

And that is when I realised that the most beautiful part of the story was not the camp itself…

It was that 19 Arab Scout Organizations and 1,500 Scouts, Girl Scouts, leaders and participants from across the Arab world came together in Dubai to write a shared Arab success story — presenting, in one remarkable scene, the richness of Arab culture, traditions and identity, alongside a shared passion for the future, innovation and leadership, all from the heart of Dubai.

It was never the story of one Scout Organization.

It was the story of the Arab Scout movement as a whole.

And so…

The Arab world came together at the Arab Scout Jamboree.

To be continued…