'5 Questions' with Adam El Rafey, 14, University Student & TEDx Speaker
- Swati Kundra
- Jan 13, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
Adam El Rafey is 14 years old and is the youngest university student in the UAE. He attends some classes at the University of Wollongong in Dubai and is already in his third year, currently studying computer science, all while attending his regular school. A change advocate and public speaker, he has been inspiring others to follow their curiosities and find their voices at any age! His life mantra is #AbilityNotAge. One can often find him talking about urban planning and transport, a field about which he is deeply passionate.
Q1. You are one of the youngest TEDx speakers in the world. What was the most challenging yet rewarding part of speaking at the event?
I live in Dubai, and my first speaking engagement was a TEDx talk when I was just 8 years old. I stood before a crowd of a hundred people. It was nerve-wracking, but once I got into the spirit of it, I absolutely loved it.
There are two things I consider most challenging yet rewarding. The first is the preparation beforehand. Before my talks — or most of the things I do — I like to take a little time to gather my thoughts and ensure I know exactly what I’m going to say. This preparation really helps me feel more confident and collected.
The second challenging yet rewarding part is getting up on stage and going for it. When I was younger, I used to have index cards that I would carry with me up on stage just to help me stay on track. But now, I feel totally relaxed. The most important thing I have done for all of my talks is being myself, and that has helped me feel confident.
Duirng my first TEDx talk, the preparation was a lot of fun. I made note of all my ideas when I began brainstorming, and I’m so happy that everything came together so well. I have to give a big thank you to my parents for being such a great support system.
Q2. What message do you hope to convey to other young people through your mantra, #AbilityNotAge?
The story behind focusing on ability rather than age is quite funny. When I was 8 years old, I decided to apply for a job at Hypixel Inc., the company behind the Minecraft server I was playing on. But I couldn’t, as the minimum age for applying was 16. Minecraft is still one of my all-time favourite games. I will definitely keep trying! Ironically, I’m still not old enough to apply, as I'm 14.
I’ve used this hashtag, #AbilityNotAge, in many places. I’ve even applied it to the education space — something I’ve been talking about since my TEDx talk. I’ve done a lot of advocacy and work in this area.
For instance, I managed to get myself into Class 10 physics classes when I was only in Class 4. I think that’s one of the earliest examples of focusing on ability over age as being truly successful, alongside my TEDx talk. It allowed me to explore my curiosities while keeping up very well. This proves that if you have the capabilities to do something, you can seize the opportunity.
I'm doing both university and school at the same time. On Wednesdays now — or Tuesdays as it was last term — I skip school and attend my university classes in person.
I am in Class 10. At school, I study Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, Economics, and Computer Science. As for college, when I first started university at the age of 12, I studied Media Studies for a year. Since last year, and up until now (I am 14), I’ve been studying Computer Science.
Q3. What advice would you give to other young advocates who want to break barriers to make an impact in their communities?
The most important step is just to start somewhere. It’s all about getting the ball rolling, no matter how small that ball may be at first. Once you start, things accumulate, opportunities arise, and everything begins to fall into place.
The second point is that you should be open to failure — it will happen a lot, and that’s where most of the learning lies. It’s good to fall, to fail for a little while, and then get back up. You can use those failures as lessons to reach a higher level than where you were before.
My third point is about how crucially important support networks are. I have to thank my parents for being an incredible support system and always being there for me. Having a good support network to fall back on is so valuable — it’s something you can lean on when needed, and it becomes such an integral part of your journey.
My fourth point is about the power of networking. Learning how to use platforms like LinkedIn, for example, is incredibly valuable. It’s great to connect with like-minded people and build communities around shared interests. Networking opens up so many opportunities— whether it’s getting involved in different spaces or finding new paths to grow. Personally, I like browsing LinkedIn and connecting with people I find interesting. My parents are always there in the background, helping screen my messages and connections, which adds an extra layer of safety.
Q4. You believe traditional school systems sometimes limit creativity. How do you think education can be reimagined?
As I said earlier, the mantra I live by, 'ability, not age,' can be used a lot within the education space because it encourages kids' curiosity, gives them opportunities, and helps them live up to their capabilities and passion to their fullest potential.
Mindsets should be fostered from a very young age. Employers are increasingly valuing skills just as much as academic performance, capabilities, or certifications. Skills like emotional intelligence, mental health awareness, adaptability, curiosity, and antifragility (the ability to bounce back from failure) are, in my opinion, the most important for the future. These are the things that should be practiced from a young age, starting early in schools.
In the world of tomorrow, subjects won’t exist in isolated boxes — math won’t be here, physics there, and chemistry elsewhere. They won’t be separate; they’ll constantly intersect and overlap. Students will be able to draw from each subject, combining different concepts and skills. That’s what I think schools should start to adapt to — bridging the gaps between subjects and educating students in a more integrated way.
Q5. You are a fan of transit and urban planning. How do you think urban planning can better integrate with future mobility trends?
I love this topic! The UAE is a prosperous nation and a global hotspot, with immense demand coming in from all over the world. Good urban planning plays a crucial role in this because it promotes financial activity, enhances accessibility, and aligns with many of the values this country stands for.
For example, innovations like drones represent a significant leap forward, paving the way for futuristic concepts like flying cars to become integrated into the city's infrastructure. This is just one example of how the UAE is making tremendous strides in urban planning and shaping the future of transport.
There’s so much more technology available now, and a lot more is being experimented with —especially in the areas of green mobility and enhanced transit systems. Initiatives like the Etihad Rail and the upcoming Dubai Metro Blue Line are prime examples of the UAE’s commitment to creating greener and more efficient transit networks.
Looking ahead, the cities of the future will see even more people moving into urban and suburban spaces, making interconnection more critical than ever. People increasingly want to move seamlessly from place to place, favouring an integrated mobility system over one that only caters to trips in and out of business districts.
If we learnt about this in school, I would be over the moon!
