A teenager is urging friends, family and the nation to vote for him in a global student-of-the-year contest.
Abdelrahman Nada, who turned 19 last week, has been shortlisted from thousands of applicants for the MTV competition.
The winner will enjoy a paid three-month internship at the television station in London.
The second round of the contest involves the public voting for their favourite out of 20 shortlisted candidates.
Mr Nada, called Abdu by his friends, was born in Cairo but raised in Abu Dhabi. He has been studying in Britain and has tapped into his worldwide social network in his search for support.
“I’ve been campaigning as much as I can,” he said. “Now I’m back in Abu Dhabi I’m trying to meet with as many of my friends as I can, and my family in Egypt are also spreading the news.”
Mr Nada has just finished his second year at London’s Brunel University, where he is studying international business.
One of his classmates, Zoja Minic, 20, from Serbia, said: “He’s very energetic. He really likes to participate in class.”
Ms Minic said she was confident her friend would make the final five.
“I was sure he would be shortlisted because he was really passionate about applying for the position,” she said. “I really hope he gets it, he’s working really hard.”
Mr Nada’s cousin in Cairo, Hassan Nada, said he was among the first to vote.
“Just look at his smile, it’s pretty obvious he’s going to win,” he said. “Even if he doesn’t, it’s not going to make a big difference to his life. He’s still going to be very successful.”
Hassan Nada, who runs a real-estate business, has lived in Saudi Arabia, Montreal and London and has been spreading the news about his relative widely.
“Our social network is pretty much across the world and everyone is voting for Abdu,” he said.
Jihan Ell Mouallim, who taught Mr Nada English at Abu Dhabi International School two years ago, said he made a big impression.
“He was an excellent student, very committed,” Ms Ell Mouallim said. “He had a very powerful insight into literature and responded in a very bright, perceptive manner.
“He was very articulate and eloquent. He was a personality that stood out and wasn’t just like all the other students.
“He left a mark on the school, he made sure of that.”
She said Mr Nada being shortlisted was no surprise.
“I’ve never doubted that he would get somewhere in life,” Ms Ell Mouallim said. “He was highly creative. He had this passion for life, literature and art in all its expressions.”
MTV has an explanation on its website as to why Mr Nada made the shortlist of 20.
“He’s experimental, passionate and has great attention to detail,” the website said.
“Nada is an international man of pro-social motivation. When he’s not mastering his business-management skills, he’s dedicated to improving the standards of living for all classes of society.”
In a two-minute video about himself, Mr Nada explained that in Spanish his surname meant “nothing”, while in Serbian it meant “hope”.
“I will leave you now with the chance of making this Nada hope, or with nothing,” he said.
To vote, visit studentoftheyear.mtv.co.uk/student/abdelrahman-nada.
