Post by : Bianca Suleiman
Abu Dhabi – New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has confirmed the 2025-26 intake for the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Programme (SMSP), selecting 24 distinguished UAE university students for an intensive programme that blends rigorous study with leadership and international engagement.
The cohort was chosen from a competitive pool of 154 applicants and draws participants from federal institutions including United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology, reflecting a cross-section of the country’s academic talent.
The programme offers a multidisciplinary syllabus designed to strengthen both intellectual and practical skills. Core modules include Ideas of the Sacred, The Road to Net Zero: Global Debates and Challenges, What Makes a Leader, Public Speaking and Presentations, and Critical Thinking and Persuasive Writing, equipping scholars with analytical, ethical and communication competencies.
Outside formal classes, participants are embedded within NYUAD’s research centres to gain applied experience on projects in sustainability, technology and public policy. The initiative also emphasises intercultural exchange to broaden perspectives that are globally informed yet locally attuned.
Since SMSP launched in 2008, 372 students have benefited from the scheme, with many progressing to postgraduate study at international institutions and NYU’s global campuses, or building careers in academia, government and the private sector. The incoming group is expected to further this record by addressing pressing issues such as climate change and sustainable development.
The 2025-26 class features Abdulla Salem Mohammed Masoud Alshamsi, Fatema Alhay Ali Mohamed Almazrouei, Firaol Tesfaye Hailu, Hamad Saeed Juma Khalifa Almehairi, Hamda Naser Sulaiman Lutfi Khanji, along with 19 other accomplished students who bring varied backgrounds and ambitions to the programme.
The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Programme continues to be a central pillar of NYUAD’s strategy to cultivate the UAE’s next generation of leaders, preparing participants to contribute meaningfully at national and international levels.
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