Sandhurst: the military academy in the UK that trains Arab royals

Established in 1812, the institution runs a gruelling 44-week course that tests the physical and mental strength of its young cadets

Sheikh Zayed greeting his son Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on his graduation from Sandhurst militray academy in 1979. Alittihad

Royal Marine Cadets outside Sandhurst in 1878. Getty Images

Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1881. Getty Images

Cadets outside Sandhurst in 1881. Getty Images

Winston Churchill, on the left, as a Sandhurst cadet in 1894. Getty Images

Sandhurst cadets during a visit of King George V in 1913. Getty Images)

Cadets during physical exercises at Sandhurst College in 1925. Getty Images

Army Cadets marching out of the gymnasium and preparing for Bayonet Fencing Drill at Sandhurst College in 1938. Getty Images

Princess Elizabeth inspecting the Guard of Honor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1949. Getty Images

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher inspecting the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst in 1980. Getty Images

403692 02: Major Richard Winstanley, the Academy Adjutant, rides his horse during a rehearsal for the 138th Sovereigns Parade in 2002. Getty Images

British Prime Minister Tony Blair inspects Officer cadets after they completed their training at Sandhurst in 2003. Getty Images)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attends his son's Passing Out Parade at Sandhurst in 2006. Getty Images

Prince Harry is met by Commandant Major General Andrew Ritchie at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Prince Harry then began his officer training, in 2005. Getty Images

Prince Harry takes part in the Trooping Of New Colours alongside his fellow officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 2005. Getty Images

Prince Harry in action during his training at Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006. Getty Images

Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pose together after the passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst in 2006. Getty Images

Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry salute Queen Elizabeth II as she leaves the passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst in 2006. Getty Images

Officer cadets from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst change their clothes as they take a break before beginning a command task at a checkpoint as they take part in Exercise Long Reach in the Brecon Beacons in 2013. Getty Images

An officer cadet from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst crosses a river during a command task in the Brecon Beacons in 2013. Getty Images

Graduating Sandhurst cadets march into the academy following the conclusion of the sovereigns parade at Sandhurst in 2015. Getty Images

Prince Harry inspects the graduating officer cadets at Sandhurst in 2017. Getty Images

For decades, foreign royals, particularly those from the Middle East, have learnt to be military leaders at Britain's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Established in 1812, the academy runs a gruelling 44-week course - broken down into three 14-week terms - that tests the physical and mental strength of its young cadets.

During training, all officer cadets learn to live by the academy’s motto: ‘serve to lead’.

Term one focuses on basic military skills, fitness and decision making.
Term two hones in on the development of leadership skills where cadets select their future corps or regiment.
And in term three, cadets embark on training exercises in the UK and overseas.

Predominantly serving would-be officers for the British Army, the academy has a tradition of attracting cadets from overseas too.

Each year, about 1,500 foreign students complete training at Sandhurst.

Many elite families from the Middle East have sent their sons and daughters to train there, and royal alumni include King Hussein of Jordan and his son King Abdullah II.

On Friday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, watched his son Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed graduate from Sandhurst decades after his own graduation from the academy.

Other notable graduates to come from the UAE include Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

To prepare further for his future role in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed attended Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, which is now part of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

During the latter stages of the six-month course, he was awarded the Sword of Honour for achieving the highest mark of any foreign and commonwealth officer cadet in his intake.

Known as one of the world's most prominent military academies, Sandhurst has been described as the place where future leaders get to know each other.

Maj Gen Duncan Capps, the commandant of Sandhurst, told The National that he was proud and impressed by the Emirati contingent that passed through Sandhurst this year.

“I applaud every one of the international cadets including the seven officer cadets from the UAE who commissioned today, who without exception have been extraordinary ambassadors for their country," he said.

In 2017, Emirati Ahmed Al Mazrui became the recipient of the Sword of Honour from Sandhurst.

He was recognised as the best international cadet in his class and was congratulated personally by Sheikh Mohamed.