Abu Dhabi // When Ali Abdul Kareem left strife-torn Baghdad in 2006, he could hardly have imagined how bright his prospects would be just two years later. Ali, 18, who graduated from Al Shola Private School in Sharjah last autumn, is about to begin studying civil engineering at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) - without having to pay any tuition fees. He is just one of 25 young Iraqis who have received special scholarships from the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), under an edict issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
"It is very expensive here so this is a big help. It is a very nice gesture. It would have been very hard in Iraq because of the dangers and the bombs," said Ali. "It's a great opportunity. This is a great country and a very welcoming country. We are blessed that we can live here in an Arab country that respects other countries." The scholarships, given to students who achieved high marks in their secondary studies, are part of a wider effort by the Government to strengthen ties with Iraq.
In June, during a visit by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Iraq, it was announced that the UAE would reopen its embassy in Baghdad. The Government withdrew its embassy staff in 2006 after two Iraqis working at the diplomatic mission were killed and Naji Rashid al Nuami, the embassy's first secretary, was kidnapped by militants and held for two weeks before being freed. Last month, during a visit to Abu Dhabi by Nouri al Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, the UAE cancelled nearly US$7 billion (Dh25.7bn) of debt left over from the Saddam Hussein era, becoming the first GCC member country to make such a gesture.
During the same visit, the UAE named Abdullah Ibrahim al Shehhi as its new ambassador to Iraq. The 25 scholarships were presented to students yesterday by Dr Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, director general of Adec, and Dr Abdul Illah al Jumaily, the cultural counsellor of the Iraq Embassy in the UAE, at a ceremony at the Armed Forces Officers' Club in the capital. The recipients, who are mostly studying medicine, engineering and business, will also have their textbooks paid for and will receive a laptop computer.
Dr Khaili said the scholarships, which are all for private universities, was the UAE's way of paying Iraq back for helping to set up this country's educational system during previous decades. "Iraq is going through a very difficult time and we would like, as a nation, to help Iraqis to stabilise their society and their security. At this very critical time, we need to help." Dr Jumaily described Adec's "generosity" as "very welcoming and reassuring to us".
"Our students are our future," he said. "The scholarship programme is an investment for the future prosperity and stability of our country and our region." Some of the students came to the UAE after the security situation in Iraq deteriorated following the 2003 invasion, while others have lived here all their lives. Abdulla Hamed, 18, who was born in the UAE, said his scholarship, also to study civil engineering at AUS, was "very helpful".
"It is very important for me as university is very expensive," he said. "We cannot really afford this place at university. I worked very hard. If anyone works hard they will get what they want." Ahmed Sarheed Khalaf, 18, whose family arrived in 2000, was especially glad to receive the scholarship since it will cover all seven years of medical school at the University of Sharjah. "If I hadn't got this, I might have had to think about studying in another place as the fees are about Dh80,000 a year," he said. "It's very expensive."
His father, Dr Abdul Rahim Khalaf, himself a doctor, said the academic standards in the UAE were "progressing" and were close to equalling those in many other countries. He added: "We do appreciate that the UAE is offering us this grant." @Email:dbardsley@thenational.ae
