Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attends son's graduation at Sandhurst

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces congratulated Emirati cadets

President Sheikh Mohamed, who was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the time, with UAE Officer Cadets during the Sovereign’s Parade at The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in December 2020. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed participates in the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed participates in the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed participates in the the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed attends the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, attend the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed at the Sovereign’s Parade in December 2020. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Humaid bin Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi receives the International Award during the Sovereign’s Parade. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Sovereign’s Parade for Commissioning Course 201 at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Sovereign’s Parade at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affair

Graduating cadets participate in the Sovereign’s Parade at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Rashed Al Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Related: Sandhurst - the British military academy that trains Arab royals

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, watched his son graduate from Britain’s Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst on Friday.

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed completed the gruelling year-long course at the prestigious academy that trains all officers for the British Army.

He follows in a long line of royals who have also passed the course in basic infantry skills, fitness and leadership, including his father Sheikh Mohamed, who served as a lieutenant general in the armed forces.

Sheikh Mohamed, who met the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, tweeted: "I was proud to attend the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where I met with our Emirati cadets.

"I congratulate all of the cadets from Commissioning Course 201 and I wish them every success in their endeavour to better serve their countries.”

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," said Major General Duncan Capps.

"The achievements of our international cadets, and the journeys they have travelled on this course are in most cases greater than for our own people.

“Officer cadet [Sheikh Zayed] produced a superb and rounded performance during his 44 weeks here at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. With excellent balance and intuition, he is a young officer with a bright future.”

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, tweeted her congratulations to Sheikh Zayed.

The challenging 44-week course tests both the physical and intellectual skills of officer cadets while also teaching them the values of “service” held by the British Army. Sandhurst also emphasises integrity, valour, loyalty and responsibility.

Sheikh Mohamed's son was one of 200 officers who graduated during the Sovereign's Parade that marks the passing out from Sandhurst of officer cadets who have completed the Commissioning Course.

Under cloudy but mild weather conditions, they formed up in ranks three-deep and marched across Old College Square in front of family, friends and VIPs.

Also in attendance was Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, the Crown Prince of Ajman. The two men watched on as Sheikh Humaid bin Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, received the International Award during the Sovereign’s Parade, a high point for Commissioning Course 201 at Sandhurst.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attends Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

The UAE is believed to be the Arab country with the largest number of Sandhurst graduates, with almost 300 commissioning as officers.

All courses seek to produce officers with the fundamentals of soldiering.

He also spent time in the Zayed Building, the new accommodation block named after the UAE’s founding ruler built following a £15m ($19.82m) donation from the Emirates.

Other royals to have graduated from Sandhurst include Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, King Abdullah of Jordan and King Hamad of Bahrain. Prince William and Prince Harry also graduated from the academy more than a decade ago.

Sandhurst through the ages

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