Zayed Education Foundation signs 14 agreements to support 100,000 young leaders by 2035

he Zayed Education Foundation has expanded its network of education partners through 14 agreements announced at an event titled “Partnerships for the Future” at Zayed National Museum.

The agreements involve 12 UAE universities, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Great Arab Minds initiative. The foundation’s stated goal is to create opportunities for 100,000 young leaders by 2035.

The collaboration includes support for scholarship and leadership programmes, alongside opportunities for universities to work together on research.

Master’s scholarships among areas of cooperation

One programme linked to the foundation’s work is Ruwwad Zayed, which offers full funding for master’s degrees at UAE universities to high-achieving Emiratis and Arab residents living in the country. Participants also receive leadership training and other developmental support.

The university partners named in the report include Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the University of Sharjah.

Higher education and employment links in focus

Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, highlighted the need for universities to respond to changes in employment, including those associated with artificial intelligence.

He emphasised stronger connections between higher education and economic sectors to help students develop skills relevant to future work.

Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University, also addressed the event, referring to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s emphasis on education and investing in people.

Research cooperation also part of the agreements

Beyond scholarships and leadership development, the agreements provide a framework for participating universities to exchange expertise and collaborate on research projects.

The announcement places these partnerships within the foundation’s longer-term ambition to develop young leaders through education and research. The report does not provide individual funding amounts or university-by-university targets under the 14 agreements.