Photo: WAM
Published date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 9:06 AM
Sheikh Mohammed met with Emirati students studying at American universities, as well as Emirati astronauts Nora Al Matroushi and Mohammed Al Mulla, recent graduates of NASA’s astronaut training program, as part of the President’s official visit to the United States.
Speaking at a reception at the UAE Embassy in Washington, the president said he is always pleased to meet young Emirati students studying at top educational institutions around the world.
He inquired about the students’ well-being and progress, got to know about their areas of expertise and stressed the leadership’s commitment to providing them with all the support they need to ensure their academic success.
The president reiterated that the UAE’s youth are its true wealth and that investing in them today is the best way to shape the country’s future. He explained that the UAE is embarking on a new phase of development that requires the next generation to be well-qualified and capable of assuming responsibility.
He encouraged the students to be determined, apply themselves fully in acquiring knowledge, focus on areas that are in line with the country’s development vision and return home with the requisite expertise and skills to benefit both themselves and the country.
Sheikh Mohammed noted that the world is progressing at an unprecedented rate, especially in the field of advanced technology, and that those with technological expertise today, especially artificial intelligence, have both influence and wealth, because the wealth of the future lies in knowledge and know-how.
He further stressed that through their endeavors in the United States, the students have a unique opportunity to showcase the progress and achievements of the UAE. He explained that the students should see themselves as ambassadors of their country and reflect the values, principles and character of their people in all their actions.
The leaders also urged the students to maintain their own identity and values while actively pursuing new skills and expertise, and encouraged them to learn the culture, values and traditions of the societies they are studying in, thus building a bridge between the two cultures.
He also expressed pride in Emirati citizens for bringing honor to the UAE and the Arab world in the field of space exploration, asserting that the engagement of Emirati youth in space demonstrates their ability to succeed in any field, and their determination to gain knowledge in advanced sciences in particular.
He also noted that the UAE has big ambitions for space exploration and is committed to building a solid base of expertise in the field. The role of Emirati astronauts such as Mohammed Al Mulla and Nora Al Matroushi, and their predecessors, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, has been crucial in building this base, transferring knowledge and experience to their colleagues in the UAE space programme.
He wished the students and astronauts continued success in contributing to the UAE’s development path.
The Emirati students expressed their joy at meeting the President and expressed their gratitude for his interest in their well-being and the support from the UAE. They vowed to work hard to meet his expectations.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Thanoon Al Nahyan, Presidential Adviser for Special Affairs, Ali bin Hamad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security, Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, and several other senior officials.
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