ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Mansoori, who graduated among the best of his class at Raha International School, had the pick of elite American universities this autumn – Brown, Duke and the University of Pennsylvania all accepted him.
But instead of taking up the place, Ahmed will be suiting up as a soldier.
He has volunteered to take a one-year break from his studies so that he can dedicate himself to serving his country.
“Even my parents were a bit surprised at the decision,” said Ahmed, who will turn 18 just in time for the start of basic military training in September.
“They were like, ‘Really, you are going to go to the military?’ because I’m not really the type that would be the military type, you know what I mean?”
Ahmed was president of his student council. He was an active kayaker, diver and cross-country runner. He was also a photographer for the school newspaper and helped to organise National Day festivities on campus. He debated in Model United Nations competitions and gained some of the highest grades in his class.
“At first, I was surprised, because he is an honour roll student, so I was expecting that he was going to complete his studies and then come back for the military service,” said his mother, Fareeda Al Hosani.
“But once he talked to me, I was proud of his decision. For sure, it’s a priority for us, service to the country is a priority more than education.”
Although military service is compulsory for all Emirati men between 18 and 30 years old, high-school graduates with a grade-point average higher than 90 per cent can receive a temporary exemption that would allow them to finish their higher education.
Last summer, Ahmed spent a month in the US taking an enrichment class and it was then he began thinking more deeply about his homeland and all the opportunities it has given him.
“When I came back, I was like, ‘oh, this is going to be like my last year in Abu Dhabi, I’m really going to miss this place’,” he said.
“Over the last few years I realised that the UAE is one of the special countries that really invests in human capital.”
Ahmed, who will take up a place at Duke University next year, said he has received a conditional acceptance to a scholarship programme provided by the UAE.
“Basically the Government will be sponsoring me through college and that’s something that I am very, very, very appreciative of,” he said.
“I’m so glad because I feel that I have been privileged with the opportunity to have been born and raised in this country. That made me want to give back to my country.
“At the same time, there’s a reason why the government would think it’s necessary to send all high-school graduates to military training
“So, basically, I put my faith in the Government and I trust their decisions and if they think that it would benefit the country in the long run then I fully support it.”
His father, Ibrahim Al Mansoori, said he was proud of his son. “For me it was a good decision,” he said.
“Our ultimate objective at the end of the day is that our son will serve his country in the best way that he can, but for me, personally, I was excited and inside I felt proud that he decided to go for the service immediately because this gives me a comfort that we were able and we could give our son a sense of loyalty to his country.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
