For the Emirati students studying across Canada, a routine day of lectures and coursework gave way to something different: a meeting with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who sat down with them during his official visit to the country to hear firsthand about their studies and their plans.
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan asked the students about their fields of specialisation and their academic and professional ambitions, and wished them continued success in their studies and in whatever they pursue next. For the young men and women in the room, the conversation was a chance to speak directly about their lives abroad, far from home, and about the futures they hope to build.
The students, for their part, expressed gratitude and appreciation to His Highness for taking the time to meet them, showing an interest in their affairs and asking after their wellbeing. They said the leadership’s support and care motivate them to keep working diligently and striving for excellence, and they spoke of their hopes to bring the knowledge and expertise they gain back to the UAE, contributing to its comprehensive development.
That exchange carried a broader message. His Highness emphasised that investing in the education and training of Emirati youth, sharpening their skills and building their capabilities in priority disciplines, stands as a cornerstone of the UAE’s vision for the future, one that strengthens the country’s global competitiveness and advances its development across various sectors. He encouraged the students to make full use of the learning, research and training opportunities available to them in their host country, and to acquire advanced knowledge, expertise and skills that can help them develop innovative solutions serving society and supporting the UAE’s progress and prosperity.
There was also a personal charge in what he told them. His Highness affirmed that Emirati students represent their country wherever they are, through their values, their conduct and their diligence, and he encouraged them to embody the nation’s authentic identity alongside its commitment to openness, tolerance and respect for cultural diversity. It was a reminder that, in the eyes of the leadership, these students are ambassadors in their own right, judged not only by their grades but by how they carry themselves in a foreign land.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of His Highness’ official visit to Canada, and further details of the encounter are available via the Abu Dhabi Media Office at https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/crown-prince-news/on-sidelines-of-official-visit-to-canada-crown-prince-of-abu-dhabi-meets-emirati-students/.
A sizable delegation accompanied the Crown Prince, reflecting the weight placed on the occasion. Those attending included His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court; Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO; His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment; His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; His Excellency Eng Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, the UAE Foreign Minister’s Envoy to Canada and Chairman of Dubai Chambers; His Excellency Ghanem Sultan Alsuwaidi, Advisor of Security Affairs at the Crown Prince Court; His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince; Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Media Office and Advisor of Strategic Relations at the Crown Prince Court; His Excellency Abdulrahman Ali Almur Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to Canada; and His Excellency Hamad Salem Al Ketbi, Director-General of Crown Prince’s Protocol at the Crown Prince Court.
Behind the protocol and the ministerial titles, though, the meeting’s core was simple: a leadership listening to its students abroad, and students promising to bring home what they learn.