Understanding the role of Arab youth in civic engagement and political participation at a meso-level involves three main factors: the failure of education systems, constrained employment opportunities, and blocked channels of civic engagement, due to the extension of the traditional society and the political regime. However, evidence to the contrary suggests that government agencies are attempting to include youth in various programs as the Arab states transform into a diversified and advanced knowledge economy. These efforts also indicate that the youth must be engaged to ensure long-term excellence through the enhancement of their intellectual wellbeing and their contribution to policymaking processes. However, for these to happen, dramatic changes must be made to diversify and meet the needs of the population. The aim of this work is to use a national survey to address the level of youth civic engagement in the State of Qatar, as a unique setting, and its impact on empowering and increasing youth’s participation in their communities. Accordingly, the following topics warrant particular attention: • the new risks and challenges in integrating civic engagement responsibilities • the implications of pandemic containment policies and practices of the Qatar government for Qatari youth • innovative policies and solutions at the national and local levels that promote youth civic engagement in the post-pandemic society The findings highlight that the political participation and civic engagement of Qatari youth exacerbate existing social risks and create new political dynamics in social policymaking. This insight also poses new challenges for government agencies, calling for the implementation of youth policies in terms of (1) the experiences of youth involved in civic engagement activities, (2) the existing gaps in social protection systems and political participation, and (3) the response of the government to these gaps and the future of work.