42 Abu Dhabi has hosted the graduation of its first cohort of students, fostering the next generation of Abu Dhabi’s digital coders, with graduates securing roles in key government and private entities in the UAE.
The ceremony, held at 42 Abu Dhabi’s campus, was attended by Her Excellency Sara Awad Issa Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairperson of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK); His Excellency Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, Undersecretary of ADEK; and a number of high-level representatives from UAE entities and 42 Abu Dhabi’s industry partners.
Several graduates of 42 Abu Dhabi, a coding school that provides a unique peer-to-peer, gamified learning methodology, secured roles in entities which are part of the school’s network of partners, and were presented with certificates of employment during the ceremony.
The entities include the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi, Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Police, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi Gaming, Thales Group, Anxinsec (AB) Technology, Beacon Red, Electra Abu Dhabi, the National Consulting Office for Engineering, KIEF Consultancy & Technology, Hub71, ADCB, and MiZa.
Several graduates have also developed start-ups and new technologies across diverse industries, including health, recruitment, and tourism. 42 Abu Dhabi’s emphasis on real-world problem-solving and access to a network of industry experts has equipped graduates with the tools and confidence needed to navigate the start-up ecosystem and drive change in their respective fields.
At 42 Abu Dhabi, students start their journey with a 12–22-month common core programme to learn coding fundamentals, followed by a six-month internship. They can then further explore and specialise through the mastery programme, which typically takes 2-3 years.
Her Excellency Sara Awad Issa Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairperson of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairperson of ADEK, said: “We are proud to celebrate the successful integration of 42 Abu Dhabi’s graduates into key public and private entities. Their achievements reflect our wise leadership’s commitment to building a robust educational ecosystem and elevating skills to meet the evolving demands of the digital economy. 42 Abu Dhabi’s inclusive environment has opened doors to people from all walks of life to learn coding and transform their career paths. Being part of this unique innovative education model has changed these students’ lives and provided them with unique career opportunities, paving their way to contribute to the digital transformation of various sectors.”
Dr Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting Executive Director - Higher Education Sector at ADEK and Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, said: "Our graduates represent the future leaders who will spearhead Abu Dhabi's digital transformation and contribute to the global tech industry. We are immensely proud to see them applying their coding skills to develop advanced technologies with real-world impact.
“We remain committed to connecting top talents with leading entities, fostering a technology-driven community of coders capable of shaping the future.”
42 Abu Dhabi was launched in 2020 as an ADEK initiative to drive Abu Dhabi’s ongoing development through multi-faceted investments in business, innovation, and people.
