UAE President receives the country's top Year 12 students, as a wider wave of national recognition marks the end of the school year
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received the country's top-performing Year 12 students for the 2025-2026 academic year, along with a number of outstanding teachers and education leaders, at a ceremony held at the Presidential Court in Abu Dhabi.
At the start of the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed congratulated the students, their families and their teachers on the achievement, wishing the students continued success in their academic journey, and commended teachers across the UAE for their dedication and contribution to students' success. He reaffirmed that advancing education remains a cornerstone of the UAE's development and progress, and highlighted the vital role of teachers and families in the success of the education system through fostering supportive homes and learning environments that encourage excellence.
The education delegation in attendance expressed its appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed for his continued support of students and the education sector, and for his commitment to recognising outstanding achievement while encouraging students to pursue further excellence.
The reception was attended by a wide circle of senior UAE leadership, including Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region; Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Zayed for Good Foundation; Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, along with several other sheikhs, officials, citizens and guests.
Part of a wider wave of recognition this July
The President's reception is the latest in a run of high-level acknowledgements UAE students have received as the 2025-2026 academic year closed out. Earlier this month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, personally surprised the eight national toppers of the General Secondary Education Certificate with a Dh100,000 cash gift and a handwritten message of pride, following his public congratulations to the same students by name a few days earlier.
A separate ceremony on July 21 saw Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attend the graduation of 1,282 Grade 12 students from Applied Technology Schools (ATS) campuses across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. At that event, 72 students who achieved a final average above 98 per cent were individually honoured for their academic performance.
Taken together, these events reflect a consistent pattern across UAE leadership this year: education recognised not only through policy reform, but through direct, personal engagement from the country's most senior figures, at both the federal and emirate level, with the students themselves.
Why this matters for UAE families
For families of this year's Year 12 graduates, and for younger students still working toward their own results, these ceremonies carry a message that has run through UAE education stories all year: sustained academic effort is something the country's leadership notices and actively chooses to mark, not just through the wider policy reforms shaping schools and universities, but through direct, personal recognition of students by name.
Sources:
Gulf News, "UAE President honours top Year 12 students of 2025-26" by WAM (July 24, 2026). https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-president-honours-top-year-12-students-of-2025-26-1.500619077
Abu Dhabi Media Office, "Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed attends graduation ceremony of 1,282 students from Applied Technology Schools." https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/education/zayed-bin-mohamed-bin-zayed-attends-graduation-ceremony-of-1282-students-from-applied-technology-schools/
