Students before a graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. As a cosmopolitan country, the UAE’s reputation as an international crossroads – particularly in terms of education – makes it a beacon for young, ambitious people who want to equip themselves for the future. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Students before a graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. As a cosmopolitan country, the UAE’s reputation as an international crossroads – particularly in terms of education – makes it a beacon for young, ambitious people who want to equip themselves for the future. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Students before a graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. As a cosmopolitan country, the UAE’s reputation as an international crossroads – particularly in terms of education – makes it a beacon for young, ambitious people who want to equip themselves for the future. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Students before a graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. As a cosmopolitan country, the UAE’s reputation as an international crossroads – part


How the UAE is priming future leaders through education


  • English
  • Arabic

March 28, 2025

For people fortunate enough to get a tertiary education, their university years are often among the most formative of their lives. Amid the hustle and bustle of campus life and academic achievement, connections and friendships are forged that lay the foundation for personal and professional ties that can last decades.

The UAE’s reputation as a competitive and thriving cosmopolitan country makes it a beacon for young, ambitious people who want to equip themselves for the future. This has been borne out in their responses to numerous Arab Youth Surveys that have repeatedly ranked the Emirates first in the region in terms of the opportunities it offers. High-profile institutions such as New York University Abu Dhabi have enrolled high-achieving students from dozens of different countries over the years, many of whom will go home with fond memories of their time in the UAE and with friends from all walks of life.

President Sheikh Mohamed announced the Zayed Education Foundation this week. This project aims to provide a platform to attract and develop young leadership talent. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed announced the Zayed Education Foundation this week. This project aims to provide a platform to attract and develop young leadership talent. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court

This reputation as a place for achievement and connection looks set to be enhanced with this week’s announcement from President Sheikh Mohamed about a new Zayed Education Foundation. This project aims to provide a platform to attract and develop young leadership talent in the UAE. According to state news agency Wam, grants, funding and scholarships will help talented individuals “access resources to develop tangible solutions to global challenges”. The foundations' efforts will be expanded to other Arab nations and countries in the Global South through partnerships with educational institutions, governments and communities.

This is a 21st-century continuation of the principles that helped make the UAE a success story. Bringing people to the Emirates to exchange knowledge and ideas was an important part of the country’s journey under UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Encouraging collaboration by building personal relationships was a core tenet that guided the country towards a prosperous and stable future. The Zayed Education Fund’s planned expansion to young people from across the Arab world and Global South is also a reflection of Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to international outreach, as seen from the Emirates’ earliest years.

This is a 21st-century continuation of the principles that helped make the UAE a success story

However, the new initiative exists as part of a wider whole. It runs in concert with other national strategies such as such as the Year of Community, military service and Emiratisation, all of which foster a sense of civic duty, build professional relationships, identify talent and encourage resilience. Young people have often been at the heart of these programmes, such as the UAE Global Youth Initiative that was launched in 2018.

Many of these initiatives stem from the need to lead the way, putting into practice those principles that have served the UAE well over the decades. By enabling young people to come to the Emirates, avail of the high-level education that it offers and make important, life-long connections, the Zayed Education Fund not only ensures a strong pool of domestic talent for the challenges of the future, it will build a network of future international leaders who can say that the UAE was an important part on their own journey to success.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

MATCH INFO

UAE Division 1

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 12-24 Abu Dhabi Saracens

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

Getting there

The flights

Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.

The stay

Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net 

Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama

Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures

Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)

Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy

Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy

Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy

Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia

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Match info

Deccan Gladiators 87-8

Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16

Maratha Arabians 89-2

Chadwick Walton 51 not out

Arabians won the final by eight wickets

Results

Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

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The details

Heard It in a Past Life

Maggie Rogers

(Capital Records)

3/5

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

Updated: March 28, 2025, 3:00 AM`