His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, extended his congratulations to the first cohort of scholars selected for the inaugural Hamdan Bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan highlighted that the programme reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to invest in individuals for genuine and sustainable development, in line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan commended the Emirati students selected under the scholarship programme for the 2024-25 academic year during an orientation session held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Dubai.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said, "Today marks the beginning of a new journey for a group of exceptional students who will pursue their higher education at world-renowned universities through the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Driven by the ambition and dedication of our students, Dubai continues to shape its future by nurturing and investing in exceptional talent."
The event also honoured 40 top-performing high school graduates from public and private schools across different curricula under the Top Achievers programme. Additionally, it celebrated the 2024 graduates of the Ruler’s Court Higher Education Scholarship, which acknowledges exceptional Emirati high school graduates and supports various academic fields.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said, "We congratulate all our top-performing high school graduates from both public and private schools, as well as their parents. I have full confidence in their ability to continue their journey of excellence and achievement, contributing to a bright future for themselves and their country. I encourage you to keep pursuing knowledge and lifelong learning to build your capacities and achieve accomplishments that will benefit both our community and the world."
What To Know About The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme
In its inaugural year, the scholarship programme received 321 applications. The steering committee selected the first cohort of scholars through a thorough evaluation process, which assessed their academic achievements, the global rankings of their chosen universities, and how their selected fields of study align with Dubai’s future goals and economic priorities.
From 321 applications, 30 students are chosen for the scholarship. The chosen students will attend 30 universities in the UAE and internationally, pursuing 35 academic disciplines such as engineering, information technology, business administration, health sciences, and the arts. The steering committee manages the programme’s vision, objectives, and strategic plan, and is responsible for approving a unified scholarship policy, setting the budget, and creating subcommittees with specific mandates and processes.
For more details about the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme, visit the KHDA website or the Emirati section of the Dubai Now app.