The UAE will open its first military university in January to train the next generation of armed forces officers.
Zayed Military University will prepare cadets with a combination of academic courses and military training.
It will be the first in the region to offer full undergraduate degrees to military students, officials said. Specialised colleges for the army, air force and navy exist elsewhere in the Gulf.
"But this is the first university where cadets can be trained in any military branch under one roof," Brig Gen Waleed Al Naqbi, deputy commandant of the university told The National.
Zayed Military University
Its first batch of 100 male Emirati high school pupils will enrol in January 2022. High school pupils can apply once they have completed their 16 months of national service.
A rigorous application procedure has been put in place and those who pass stringent health, physical, and educational standards will be considered.
Initially, only men will be accepted but there are plans to enrol women candidates in the near future.
The first class will study at a temporary facility in the Hamim Beach area on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi and will move to a permanent campus when it is ready. Candidates will be trained for three years before deciding on specialisation courses to join a branch of the military.
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Military personnel participate in a reception at Zayed Military City on February 9, 2020 to celebrate and honour members of the UAE Armed Forces who served in the Arab coalition in Yemen. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (centre). -
Sheikh Mohamed inspects military personnel. -
A view of the military at the reception. -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Minister of Defence (second left), inspects military personnel during the reception at Zayed Military City. -
Military personnel on parade during the reception. -
Military personnel at the February 9, 2020 reception. -
Members of the UAE Red Crescent. -
Military personnel at the reception. -
An aerial view of the reception on February 9, 2020.
Those who complete the courses will graduate as officers with a bachelor of science, majoring in security studies and defence, Brig Gen Al Naqbi said.
"In the near future, we will be having more degrees in different specialities to fulfil the future market needs in the defence and security sector."
Officers and lecturers with military backgrounds are being recruited to teach.
“We look forward to seeing the first intake of UAE military cadets entering Zayed Military University,” said Mohammed Al Bawardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs.
“They will gain the necessary professional and academic experiences and refine their leadership skills.”
Brig Gen Al Naqbi said the new university will “provide a superior level of military training”.
“The first batch of military cadets is preparing to enter history, as we are approaching the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE and embarking on the journey of the next 50 years that will witness more achievements.
“There is no doubt that the challenges of the modern era require appropriate solutions, and this is exactly what we seek.
“With the establishment of Zayed Military University, there is no doubt that the graduates will be ready to serve their homeland.”
Zayed Military University has tied up with Rabdan Academy, a government-owned institution in Abu Dhabi that offers both academic and vocational education.
