His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and President of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Trustees, has chaired Abu Dhabi University’s board of trustees meeting, emphasising the critical role of education in fostering national unity, social cohesion, pride in identity, heritage, and accomplishments while striving to embrace modernity, anticipate future challenges, and spread values of goodwill, tolerance and peace globally.
During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan highlighted that since the establishment of the union, education has been a fundamental pillar in the vision of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was keen to make education a unifying force that brought together the people of the UAE and aligned their aspirations within the fabric of the union, upholding the noble values of Emirati society.
His Highness pointed out that the education system has been a cornerstone of human capital development since the establishment of the union, equipping the national labour market with skilled Emirati professionals across all sectors to meet the country’s diverse development needs. Over the decades, these specialised national talents have set remarkable examples of excellence, leadership and innovation, leaving a lasting impact on the UAE’s journey of growth, prosperity and progress.
His Highness commended the steadfast support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; and Their Highnesses, the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, saying that their commitment to education ensures it remains a top national priority and a leading driver of global competitiveness.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Vice President of the Board, along with board members His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, His Excellency Staff Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, His Excellency Nasser Mohammed Al Mansouri, Her Excellency Dr Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, His Excellency Dr Ali Saeed bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Abu Dhabi University’s Board of Directors, and Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his pride and appreciation for Abu Dhabi University’s efforts and its remarkable academic and community achievements at the national, regional and international levels. He highlighted the university’s commitment to effectively translating the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, by prioritising investment in people as an investment in the future. Abu Dhabi University continues to make significant strides as a leading national institution in higher education, excelling in quality performance and delivering educational outcomes that prepare graduates to meet the labour market’s evolving needs in the UAE and the region, guided by the best academic and practical practices.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan instructed Abu Dhabi University to continue excelling academically, in research, and within the community by implementing programmes and initiatives that align with the nation’s ongoing development and prosperity across all sectors. His Highness underscored the importance of fostering a learning environment that inspires creativity, excellence, innovation, and leadership among students.
During the meeting, His Highness also viewed a presentation by Dr Ali Saeed bin Harmal, outlining the university’s strategic pillars and future academic development plans. The presentation highlighted the university’s vision to solidify its position and enhance its role in the higher education sector locally, regionally and globally. It also detailed upcoming academic programmes and initiatives aimed at meeting evolving labour market demands, particularly in light of the integration of advanced technology and artificial intelligence into education systems. This vision reflects the necessity for educational institutions to keep pace with rapid advancements in these areas.
During the presentation, Dr Ali Saeed bin Harmal highlighted the university’s recent achievements, including a significant academic milestone in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, where Abu Dhabi University ranked 191st globally, advancing 60 places compared to the previous year, and was listed among the top 200 universities worldwide. It also topped the list for the best university in the UAE for teaching excellence and ranked first in the country for employability of its graduates, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education Global Employability University Ranking. The university secured second place in the GCC, third in the Arab world and 174th globally. Additionally, it ranked 172nd globally for research quality.
Professor Ghassan Aouad, Director of Abu Dhabi University, emphasised the university’s commitment to translating the leadership’s directives by maintaining excellence in its academic journey. He noted that the university's College of Business Administration ranked as the best in the UAE in its field, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Furthermore, the university ranked 60th in the list of the world’s best universities under 50 years old in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, 89th among the most prestigious universities in Asia, according to the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2024, and 8th globally for the best small universities according to the Best Small Universities Rankings 2024. Abu Dhabi University was also ranked among the top 501 universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2025, advancing 79 positions, and 12th in the Arab world, moving up 11 places. Additionally, the university earned five stars in the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating for 2022.
His Highness concluded the meeting by praising the excellence achieved by the university’s teams, urging everyone to maintain their outstanding efforts, which solidifies the university’s position and role both nationally and internationally. He emphasised the importance of strengthening its mission to shape the future and provide innovative solutions to various developmental challenges across all key sectors.
