Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities graduates record 402 students in largest-ever class

Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities has graduated 402 students across its bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, marking the largest graduating class since the university's establishment.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, attended the graduation ceremony and highlighted President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's commitment to high-quality education as a cornerstone of national development and social progress.

He reiterated the UAE leadership's belief that people are the nation's greatest wealth and that education empowers individuals to contribute meaningfully to society, fulfil their aspirations and build successful lives.

The ceremony, held at ERTH Abu Dhabi Hotel, brought together Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees; Dr Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri, the university's chancellor; board members, faculty and administrative staff, senior officials, representatives of government entities and educational institutions, and the graduates' families.

Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Nahyan said the university, which bears the President's name, was committed to reflecting his leadership through high standards of competence, excellence and institutional performance.

He expressed appreciation for Sheikh Mohamed's continued support for universities and colleges across the UAE, stressing that education remains central to the country's ambition to develop its people and strengthen its standing internationally.

Sheikh Nahyan also acknowledged the President's vision for the nation's future and his efforts to consolidate the UAE's position among the world's leading countries.

Congratulating the graduates, he described the ceremony as an important milestone for the university and an opportunity to recognise the perseverance, dedication and hard work behind their academic achievements.

He urged them to become positive representatives of the institution through their conduct and contributions to society, expressing confidence that they would fulfil the expectations placed in them.

Sheikh Nahyan also praised the university's academic programmes, faculty and research achievements, noting its commitment to international standards and its growing role in promoting tolerance, coexistence and human fraternity.

He commended the Board of Trustees and university staff for their contribution to its development, expressing hope that the institution would continue to grow as a forward-looking national university with an international outlook.

Offering advice to the graduating class, he encouraged students to approach their professional responsibilities with dedication, contribute positively to their communities and support progress and peace around the world.

He also reminded them that education does not end with graduation, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning in a rapidly changing world.

Sheikh Nahyan concluded by thanking the university's faculty and staff for preparing the graduates for their next steps and wishing the institution continued progress under the UAE's leadership.

In a statement, Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei thanked President Sheikh Mohamed for his continued support for the university and its academic and intellectual development since its establishment.

He said the graduation represented more than an academic milestone, reflecting the UAE's broader vision of investing in people as its most valuable resource and as the foundation for stability and future progress.

Dr Al Darei said the university was focused on developing academic and religious scholars who could engage thoughtfully with contemporary issues and promote coexistence and civilisational dialogue across cultures.

He emphasised the growing need for a human-centred intellectual discourse that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, encourages mutual understanding and places people at the heart of progress and stability.

He also highlighted the university's expanding international presence, pointing to its ability to attract students and researchers from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds. This growing diversity, he said, reinforced its role as a global platform for dialogue, coexistence and knowledge creation.

Dr Khalifa Mubarak Al Dhaheri congratulated the graduates and their families, describing the occasion as a celebration of achievement that could inspire future generations to pursue excellence through hard work and perseverance.

He said the graduates would serve as ambassadors of the university's humanistic mission, advancing knowledge, moderation and civilisational dialogue while engaging with the wider world through scholarship and wisdom.

"Our role extends beyond academic preparation to developing minds equipped with intellectual awareness and an ethical compass, capable of understanding the major transformations taking place around the world and engaging with them with wisdom and responsibility," he said.

Dr Al Dhaheri reaffirmed the university's commitment to attracting distinguished academics and specialists from around the world to enrich its learning environment and strengthen the quality of its academic programmes.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow graduates, Abdulrahman Al Hammadi thanked the university's leadership, faculty and administrative staff for the guidance, support and opportunities that had shaped their academic and personal development.

He said the university had provided an inspiring environment in which students could learn from experienced academics and specialists while developing a commitment to moderation, tolerance and responsible openness.

The graduates, he added, were leaving with a stronger foundation to serve their communities and carry forward the university's humanistic mission.

The graduating cohort comprised 170 men and 232 women, including 322 bachelor's graduates, 50 master's graduates and 30 doctoral graduates.

The Bachelor of Arts in Tolerance and Coexistence Studies accounted for the largest share, with 163 graduates. Other graduates completed programmes in Islamic jurisprudence and fatwa, language and linguistics, Quranic studies and hadith, literature, religious discourse and society, Arabic language and literature, alongside postgraduate programmes.

The class also reflected the university's growing international appeal, with 65 international graduates representing diverse nationalities. They included 50 men and 15 women.

The university said the composition of the graduating class highlighted its expanding academic reach and its efforts to prepare graduates equipped to engage with contemporary intellectual and humanistic challenges while promoting dialogue and mutual understanding across societies.