Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, has launched a remarkable scholarship program aimed at supporting outstanding Emirati graduates from both public and private schools in the city. The Hamdan bin Mohammed Academic Scholarship Programme has allocated a substantial sum of Dh1.1 billion to aid the higher education pursuits of deserving Emirati school graduates. This initiative will fund 100 students each year, and the application process will commence in April 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
To apply for this prestigious scholarship, students can use the DubaiNow platform, which is powered by the Dubai Digital Authority, and navigate to the ‘Emarati’ icon. The selection criteria will be determined according to the terms and conditions set by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The application timeline will be synchronized with the release of high school results, taking into consideration the various curricula.
This significant undertaking aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33, a visionary initiative launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. The primary objective of the programme is to provide support to Dubai’s most exceptional Emirati students, granting them access to higher education opportunities at leading academic institutions.
The ultimate goal is to empower Dubai’s human capital through diverse higher education avenues, thereby contributing to the development of a future workforce equipped with advanced skills.
Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the critical role played by high-achieving and ambitious students in fulfilling the mission of the Dubai Social Agenda 33. He expressed confidence in their ability to shape Dubai’s future and highlighted his practice of recognizing the top 25 high school students from Dubai over the past two academic years.
These recognized students come from a diverse range of schools and curricula, including the Ministry of Education, British and American curricula, as well as the International Baccalaureate. The new scholarship program will complement existing scholarships by providing an additional 75 scholarships, benefiting 100 outstanding students annually.
In line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33, the Hamdan bin Mohammed Academic Scholarship Programme aims to achieve two primary strategic objectives. Firstly, it aspires to position Dubai among the top 10 cities globally in terms of education quality by 2033. Secondly, the program is strategically designed to contribute significantly to Dubai’s future knowledge-based economy by nurturing exceptional future leaders who will drive innovation across various sectors. Additionally, it will offer scholarships to prestigious international universities for specialized studies that align with the needs of Dubai’s economy.