NYU Abu Dhabi welcomes 24 UAE students to 2026–27 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has welcomed 24 university students from across the UAE into the 2026–27 cohort of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program (SMSP), offering them a year of advanced academic learning, leadership development and exposure to new perspectives.

Now in its 19th year, the programme brings together high-achieving students from the UAE’s federal universities, including United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). It combines advanced coursework, graduate school guidance and engagement with NYUAD’s academic and research community to help students broaden their knowledge and prepare for future academic and professional opportunities.

Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-chair of the Scholars Program Steering Committee, said the initiative provides a platform for exceptional students to pursue their ambitions while developing the creativity, curiosity and leadership skills needed to contribute meaningfully to society.

“We are proud to welcome this new cohort and look forward to seeing how they grow through this experience,” she said.

The 24 scholars were selected from a competitive pool of applicants by a panel comprising NYUAD faculty members and community leaders. Throughout the programme, they will learn from university faculty, engage with research centres and facilities, and build connections with fellow students from across the UAE.

The 2026–27 curriculum draws on expertise across multiple disciplines, including sustainability, technology, public policy, the humanities and the sciences. Leadership workshops, experiential learning opportunities and graduate school counselling will complement classroom instruction, helping participants strengthen their communication, critical thinking and leadership skills.

Fatma Abdulla, senior associate vice chancellor and senior vice provost for strategy and planning at NYUAD, said the university was pleased to welcome another cohort of students who had demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potential.

She said the programme would support scholars as they challenge themselves, explore new perspectives and prepare for their future academic and professional journeys.

Aysha Aljaberi, assistant vice provost for Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs and the PhD Pathways Program, said SMSP had evolved over the years to reflect changing global circumstances and students’ aspirations.

She said its strength lay in combining rigorous academic learning with opportunities to understand leadership and global challenges from different perspectives. Interactions with Her Highness Sheikha Mariam and other UAE leaders also give students first-hand insights into leadership, national priorities and issues facing the country and the wider world.

These experiences, alongside relationships with peers, faculty members and the broader NYUAD community, can shape how scholars understand leadership and their potential role in the future, she added.

Since its launch, the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program has supported 396 students. Of these, 184 have pursued graduate studies worldwide, including 69 across NYU’s global campuses and 27 in PhD programmes. Alumni have gone on to careers in academia, government and industry, reflecting the programme’s contribution to developing the UAE’s next generation of leaders.

SMSP is one of two Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community programmes administered by NYUAD. The other, the NYUAD Summer Academy, is a competitive college preparatory programme for Emirati students entering their eleventh year of high school.

The 2026–27 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars cohort

The new cohort comprises Ahmed Salim Obaid Mohamed Almheiri; Aishah Ali Khameis Ali Safdani; Amanuel Roba Dame; Amro Abbas Mohamed Ahmed; Ayesha Hasan Abdulla Rashed Alshamsi; Blen Assefa Getu; Hikma Yimer Mohammed; Khder Arshad Jameel Muhammed Akhter Khan; Khouloud Abdulkhaliq Saleh Abdulla Alameri; Maram Khalifa Mohammed Alsuihi Alkaabi; Mariam Mubarak Mohammed Alhadaa Alsheraifi; Shatha Mohammad Saif Alhamedi; Abdulrahman Fahad Aboud Amer Alnahdi; Hamiyar Ahmed Hamiyar Al Mazrui; Hermela Amha Genanaw; Mahra Khalifa Abdulla Barrak Aldhaheri; Mihreteab Alemayehu Kassa; Mohamed Ahmad Mohamed Ahmad Almuhassin; Moza Matar Saeed Bin Halwa Alketbi; Nada Hashem Ali Al Shateri; Nour Ali Ahmed Ham Alkatheeri; Shalom Ismael Ali; Shamma Abdulnasser Ali Alnaqeeb Alafeefi; and Tsion Hagos Seyoum.