Paving the Way for Future Leaders in the Middle East, The University of Manchester- Dubai Hosts the 2025 Graduation Celebration

 

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The celebration marked the first visit to the UAE by The University of Manchester President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison

Dubai, UAE – November 28, 2025 – The University of Manchester - Dubai convened its annual graduation celebration at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on November 23, 2025, drawing together students, faculty, and dignitaries for an event that underlined both academic achievement and institutional progress in the region.

This year’s celebration was led by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, marking his first visit to the United Arab Emirates. The occasion also coincided with the 60th anniversary of theAlliance Manchester Business School, adding historical resonance to the proceedings.

Other key participants in the programme included Richard Cotton, Director of Student Recruitment and International Development at The University of Manchester and the three Programme Directors - Xavier Duran, MBA Programmes Director; Professor Arif Khurshed, Programme Director for MSc Financial Management; and Dr. Paul Armstrong, Programme Director for MA Educational Leadership in Practice as well as several members of the Middle East Branch Team.

Professor Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, remarked: “Graduation is  the most magical of days of any of our celebrations. We want our graduates to take what they learned and make a positive contribution, whether that’s to their companies, government, family or community. What defines a Manchester education is that combination of academic rigour and community impact and so I congratulate all of our Middle East graduates on their achievements.”

A total of 169 graduates from programmes including MBA, MSc Financial Management, and MA Educational Leadership in Practice were recognised for their academic achievements, having completed master’s studies through flexible learning while managing professional and personal responsibilities. This cohort included 57 female and 112 male graduates, with 41 receiving Distinction, 122 Merit, and 6 Pass awards—the highest number of Merit awards conferred to date. The highest GPA across all three programmes were achieved by female graduates. Additionally, a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) student was among the group awarded Best Business Inquiry Group 2025.

The event was attended by Andrew Clark, His Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, who represented the British Embassy. Speakers addressed the assembled audience on topics ranging from the University’s strategic vision for 2035 (Manchester 2035 strategy) to the broader impact of higher education in the Middle East. Mazen Suleiman, the graduate representative offered reflections on the collective journey of the cohort and the significance of the Manchester experience.

Commenting on the event, Randa Bessiso, Founding Director, Middle East at The University of Manchester - Dubai, said: “Today’s graduates exemplify not only academic excellence, but also the resilience and leadership that will shape the future of our region. At The University of Manchester - Dubai, we remain steadfast in our commitment to cultivating an inclusive environment where talent knows no boundaries. The achievements of our graduates, especially the distinguished women among them demonstrate the enduring value of opportunity and lifelong learning. As we mark this milestone, we reaffirm our dedication to empowering every student to contribute to the sustainable growth and innovation of the Middle East. Our alumni are well-prepared to lead the way forward.”

Graduates were acknowledged individually by senior faculty, with special commendations awarded for notable contributions to the university community, alongside  recognition awards presented to Alumni ambassadors. The Celebration highlights included a Sandshow performance, a touching graduation video, and the formal presentation of academic awards and mementos.

The celebration also served to highlight recent institutional developments. The University of Manchester - Dubai has received Institutional Licensure from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, alongside full accreditation of its programmes by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation. These recognitions are expected to enhance career prospects for graduates across the UAE and the wider GCC.

As the University approaches its 20th anniversary in Dubai next year, the graduation ceremony reflected both the evolution of the institution and the expanding influence of its alumni network throughout the region.

2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards Winners Set New Standards for the Marina Industry

 Under the Patronage of Hamdan bin Zayed

 

·         The third edition of the Awards celebrated marina excellence from across the MENAT region

·         2025 marked the introduction of artificial intelligence as a supportive tool in the Awards submissions and assessment processes.

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 28 November 2025: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region; in the presence of Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation; and in collaboration with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport; Abu Dhabi Maritime – part of AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS) – announced the winners of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards in a ceremony during the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show on 20 November 2025.

 

The Awards aim to bring recognition to the vibrant marina industry across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT region), and to set new benchmarks for excellence in marina management and operations.

 

For their third edition, the Awards expanded their scope to recognise outstanding organisation-wide, individual, and project-based achievements or performance.

 

The Awards ceremony honoured 22 winners across the following categories:

 

Organisation-Based Awards:

·         Outstanding Marina Award

o   Gold: Dubai Harbour - UAE

o   Silver: D-Marin Didim - Türkiye

·         Outstanding Emerging Marina Award:

o   Gold: D-Marin Marsa Al Arab - UAE

o   Silver: Emirates Palace Marina - UAE

·         Customer Experience Award: 

o   Gold: D-Marin Didim - Türkiye

o   Silver: D-Marin Göcek - Türkiye

·         Employer Excellence Award:

o   Gold: Palm Jumeirah Marina - UAE

o   Silver: Bulgari Marina - UAE

·         Health & Safety Award:

o   Gold: Emirates Palace Marina - UAE

o   Silver: D-Marin Turgutreis - Türkiye

·         Innovation Award:

o   Gold: D-Marin Göcek - Türkiye

o   Silver: Palm Jumeirah Marina - UAE

·         Sustainability Award:

o   Gold: D-Marin Turgutreis - Türkiye

o   Silver: The Pearl Island Marina - Qatar

 

Individual-Based Awards:

·         Outstanding Leader Award:

• Gold: Wayne Shepherd – Dubai Harbour
• Silver: Adel Maani – Ayla Marina

·         Outstanding Service Hero Award:

• Gold: Sara Abdelaziz – Aldar Marinas
• Silver: Charles Mayanja – Emirates Palace Marina

·         Rising Star Award:

• Gold: Hassan Ahmad – Jeddah Yacht Club
• Silver: Sherzodbek Ganiev – Palm Jumeirah Marina

 

Project-Based Awards

·         Sustainability Project Award: Dubai Islands Marina

·         Innovation Project Award: Dubai Harbour

 

Finally, the Most Popular Marina special recognition, selected by public vote, went to: The Pearl Island Marina - Qatar.

 

On this occasion, Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre, said: “The Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards continue to reflect our dedication to advancing the maritime sector through collaboration, innovation, and excellence. By recognising outstanding contributions from across the MENAT region, we not only celebrate achievements but also foster a culture of continuous improvement. These awards play a vital role in elevating service quality, promoting sustainability, and encouraging knowledge exchange, ultimately strengthening Abu Dhabi’s leadership in maritime sector development and enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading maritime hub.”

 

Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, added: “More than a celebration, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards are a catalyst for progress in the marina industry. Each year, we witness remarkable advancements in innovation, safety, and sustainability, driven by passionate individuals and organisations. As Abu Dhabi continues to rise as a global maritime hub, these awards underscore our commitment to setting world-class standards and positioning the emirate at the forefront of the international maritime landscape.”

 

New this year was the incorporation of an artificial intelligence agent into the Awards’ secure online submission and assessment platform.

 

As in previous editions, submissions to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards first underwent analysis by teams of qualified assessors, who scored each entry according to the criteria specific to each award category. 

 

The AI agent organised data for easy access by the assessors. It further identified submissions’ potential strengths and shortcomings for assessors’ consideration during their own comprehensive reviews.

 

Assessors submitted their findings to the Awards jury members, who weighed assessors’ input as part of their deliberations, but also conducted their own qualitative examination of each entry before deciding award winners.

 

The introduction of AI assistance to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards has laid the groundwork for its further integration as a complement to the human-led evaluation and judging processes.

 

The Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards model draws from multi-sector leading awards programme benchmarks. Also notable this year was the diversity of the Awards’ 13 assessors. With wide-ranging professional experience – from customer experience strategy to quality management, marketing, sustainable development, and business excellence – spanning a combined 12 countries on five continents, these experts brought valuable perspectives to their analyses, further underling the Awards’ panoramic approach.

 

The 2025 Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards jury, meanwhile, comprised distinguished leaders whose eminence ensured a rigorous, independent, and forward-looking evaluation process, backed by decades of practice across industry, consultancy, and quality frameworks. This collective strength reinforced the Awards’ stature as a measure of excellence in the maritime sector.

 

The fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards is scheduled to take place in fall 2026.

 

In collaboration with Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Maritime, operating under AD Ports Group, is tasked with safeguarding Abu Dhabi’s waterways and supporting the growth of the emirate’s maritime sector.

 

The awards are a testament to the organisations’ commitment to upholding high health, safety, and environmental standards, positioning Abu Dhabi as a premier global maritime hub.

 

-Ends-

 

 

Khalifa Fund supports 12 Emirati ventures at Al Ain International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition

 

 

UAE, November 26, 2025- The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) is participating in the first edition of the Al Ain International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain from November 26 to 30, 2025.

The participation reflects KFED's commitment to empowering startups and small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), and enhancing their growth prospects, by supporting their presence at prominent events and platforms. This enables these businesses to showcase their innovative products and solutions while also exploring potential partnership opportunities. The Fund supports the participation of a range of Emirati enterprises from diverse sectors at this distinguished event, including tourism, engineering and construction, information and communication technology (ICT), media, retail, and food and beverages.

Her Excellency Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: "We are proud to support the participation of 12 Emirati ventures at the Al Ain International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2025, offering them the opportunity to showcase their services and products inspired by Emirati heritage and culture, and to explore potential collaboration opportunities with local and international entities present at the event. The participation of these ventures highlights the vital role of local ventures in reinforcing cultural identity and supporting economic development and reflects the Fund's leading role in fostering a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem."

At the event, Khalifa Fund is supporting the participation of various ventures including ‘Capital Gate Tourism’, a venture offering desert safari trips, camel rides, entertainment and sandboarding, while also serving Arabic dishes; ‘Camptrek General Trading’, which provides high-quality outdoor and sports equipment to retailers and vendors; ‘Hign Al Khaleej Service Brokerage’, an integrated digital platform in the Gulf region dedicated to buying and selling camels and meeting the needs of their owners; ‘ABK Photography’, a studio specialising in printing, cinematographic and photographic services, as well as offering educational courses and portrait sessions.

Other notable ventures are ‘Aurum Apis Trading’, a UAE brand offering the finest natural honey varieties, including the Yemeni Sidr and Kyrgyz mountain honey varieties; ‘ABI Style Handicrafts’, which offers distinctive designs, including embroidery and heat-press printing on shirts; ‘OSOL ALITQAN General Trading’, which supplies food and consumer goods products; and ‘Buro Specialty Coffee’, a cafe serving specialty coffees, while also providing hospitality services and mobile carts.

The exhibition also witnessed the participation of ‘The Jarnin  Retail Sale Of Men Readymade Clothes’, a startup specialising in men’s clothing retail and promoting Emirati brands in the men’s fashion sector; ‘POV Sweets’, which specialises in high-quality Oriental and Western sweets, confectioneries and luxury chocolates; ‘Al Haboob Omani Sweets’, which offers a variety of Omani sweets; and ‘NMD Motorcycles and Cycles’, a manufacturer of motorcycles.

The five-day exhibition will feature a diverse lineup of events, including interactive sessions, workshops, showcase areas, live competitions, horse shows, entertainment, Telwah and handicrafts. It also includes a luxury goods and handicrafts market, as well as a food and beverages village. The event is hosting 873 exhibitors and brands, from 12 countries.

 

-Ends-

 

مجموعة "نيميتشك" تكشف عن أحدث تقنياتها لتسريع التحوّل الرقمي في قطاع العمارة بالشرق الأوسط

 

 

خلال مشاركتها في معرض "الخمسة الكبار" 2025

 

ثماني علامات تجارية تُعيد صياغة المشهد العمراني بحلولٍ مبتكرةٍ تدعم الاستدامة والتكامل

25 نوفمبر 2025، دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة - أعلنت مجموعة "نيميتشك" العالمية، المتخصصة في تطوير الحلول البرمجية لمجالات التصميم المعماري والهندسة والإنشاءات وإدارة المباني، عن مشاركتها – كراعي برونزي – في معرض "الخمسة الكبار"2025، أبرز الفعاليات المتخصصة في قطاعي العمارة والبنية التحتية في الشرق الأوسط، بهدف تسريع التحوّل الرقمي في هذا القطاع من خلال استعراض أحدث تقنياتها الذكية وأنظمة العمل المترابطة، التي تعزّز كفاءة تنفيذ المشاريع العمرانية وفق أعلى معايير الجودة والاستدامة.

وتستعرض "نيميتشك" في جناحها رقم Z6 A31 في قاعة زعبيل ٦، مجموعةً من حلولها المبتكرة التي تساعد المعماريين والمهندسين والمقاولين ومديري المرافق على تصميم وتنفيذ وتشغيل مشاريعهم بأعلى مواصفات الجودة والتكامل، حيث سيتمكّن الزوار من التعرّف عن قرب إلى الدور الفعّال الذي تقوم به الشركات التابعة للمجموعة، مثل "AI and Data Innovation Hub"، و"ALLPLAN"، و"Bluebeam"، و"dTwin"، و"Graphisoft"، و"Solibri"، و"Spacewell"، و"Vectorworks"، في تحقيق هذه الأهداف.

وبهذا الصدد، أكد مارك نيزِت، الرئيس التنفيذي للاستراتيجية في مجموعة "نيميتشك"، أن التحوّل الرقمي يُعيد صياغة الطريقة التي يُصمَّم ويُبنى بها العالم من حولنا، موضحًا أن هدف المجموعة هو قيادة هذا التحوّل عبر حلولٍ ذكية ومفتوحة المصدر، تعمل بانسجامٍ عبر جميع مراحل المشروع، بما يمكّن عملاءها من ابتكار بيئاتٍ عمرانيةٍ تراعي الاحتياجات البشرية وتضمن استدامة الموارد. وأشار نيزِت إلى أن الشرق الأوسط يمثّل نموذجًا عالميًا للطموح والرؤية المستقبلية في تطوير المدن، معربًا عن فخر المجموعة بالمساهمة في هذه المسيرة من خلال تقنياتها المتقدّمة وخبراتها التي تدعم بناء مستقبلٍ أكثر استدامة.

تسريع وتيرة البناء الذكي والمستدام في الخليج

تأتي هذه التصريحات في وقتٍ يشهد فيه قطاع البناء بدول مجلس التعاون الخليجي طفرةً عمرانيةً غير مسبوقة، تقودها مشاريع كبرى في المملكة العربية السعودية ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. ووفقًا لأحدث تقارير منصة "مِد" (MEED)، إحدى أبرز الجهات المتخصصة في التحليلات الاقتصادية ومتابعة مشاريع البنية التحتية بالمنطقة، بلغت القيمة الإجمالية لعقود البناء في دول المجلس 264.4 مليار دولار خلال عام 2024، بزيادةٍ قدرها 6% عن العام السابق، استحوذت السعودية على أكثر من نصفها. وتُبرز هذه الأرقام حجم التأثير الكبير للمبادرات الوطنية الطموحة التي تتبناها دول المنطقة في تنفيذ المشاريع الاستراتيجية، وفي مقدّمتها "رؤية السعودية 2030" و"استراتيجية الإمارات للحياد المناخي 2050"، اللتان تضعان الابتكار الرقمي والاستدامة والتقدّم التكنولوجي في صميم خطط تطوير البنية التحتية.

وفي هذا الإطار، تؤكد مجموعة "نيميتشك" التزامها بدعم مسيرة التطوير العمراني في المنطقة، وانسجامها مع الاستراتيجيات الوطنية لدول مجلس التعاون الهادفة إلى تحقيق التنمية المستدامة، وذلك من خلال منظومةٍ متكاملة من الحلول المدعومة بتقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي التي تُحسّن عمليات التصميم الهندسي، وتوظيف التوائم الرقمية في إدارة الأصول، وتوفير منصّات تعاون تُمكّن فرق العمل من تنفيذ مهامها على النموذج الرقمي للمبنى في الوقت نفسه، إلى جانب أنظمة التشغيل الذكية، الأمر الذي يعيد تعريف أساليب التصميم والتنفيذ والإدارة بما يعزّز الكفاءة التشغيلية ويحدّ من الأثر البيئي.

من جانبه، أكد مؤيد سمباوه، المدير العام لشركة "نيميتشك العربية"، أن حكومات دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي تمضي بخطى واثقة نحو بناء مدنٍ مستقبليةٍ تجسّد مفاهيم الابتكار والاستدامة والكفاءة، مشيرًا إلى فخر "نيميتشك العربية" بكونها الشريك الرقمي المفضل لدى العديد من المشاريع الكبرى، ودورها في تمكين المؤسسات من تنفيذ مشروعاتها بما يتماشى مع الأهداف الوطنية، سواء عبر تسريع الإنجاز وتحسين الجودة، أو تعزيز التعاون بين فرق العمل، أو تبنّي تقنيات البناء الصديقة للبيئة.

رؤى عالمية للابتكار والتحوّل الرقمي في قطاع البناء

ويُشارك مارك نيزِت، الرئيس التنفيذي للاستراتيجية في مجموعة "نيميتشك"، في حلقتي نقاشٍ خلال فعاليات المعرض؛ الأولى ضمن قمة قادة "الخمسة الكبار" العالمية بعنوان "رؤى قيادية: إعادة التفكير في الابتكار لتحقيق أثر حقيقي"، وتتناول دور الأدوات الرقمية والذكاء الاصطناعي في تعزيز مرونة المؤسسات وتوجيه الاستثمارات نحو الابتكار في ظل التحولات العالمية المتسارعة. أما الجلسة الثانية، فتُعقد ضمن قمة "الخمسة الكبار – مستقبل التكنولوجيا" بعنوان "خارطة الاستثمار في تقنيات البناء – إلى أين تتجه رؤوس الأموال؟"، وتسلّط الضوء على أبرز الأسواق الداعمة لتبنّي تكنولوجيا البناء والعقارات الذكية، إضافةً إلى الابتكارات التي تجذب اهتمام المستثمرين حول العالم.

وفي السياق ذاته، يقدم تشارلز شيريدان، الرئيس التنفيذي للبيانات والذكاء الاصطناعي في المجموعة، عرضًا رئيسيًا ضمن فعاليات القمة بعنوان "ثورة الذكاء الاصطناعي: أدوات أذكى، رؤى أعمق، ومبانٍ أقوى"، يستعرض خلاله مساهمة "نيميتشك" في تطوير جيلٍ جديدٍ من الأدوات المدعومة بالذكاء الاصطناعي، التي توحّد البيانات والرؤى وسير العمل عبر مختلف مراحل المشروع من التصميم إلى التنفيذ. كما يشارك شيريدان في جلسة حوارية ضمن فعالية "حوارات الذكاء الاصطناعي" بعنوان "تجاوز الضجيج لتحقيق النتائج"، يستعرض خلالها نماذج ناجحة لتطبيقات الذكاء الاصطناعي، وأفضل الممارسات في إدارة فرق العمل أثناء تطبيق هذه التقنيات، إلى جانب أساليب التعامل بفعالية مع توقعات الأطراف المعنية لضمان تحقيق نتائج ملموسة ومستدامة.

نيميتشك ترسخ حضورها وتأثيرها في المنطقة

تواصل مجموعة "نيميتشك" تعزيز حضورها في منطقة الشرق الأوسط من خلال توسيع شراكاتها الهادفة إلى دعم التحوّل الرقمي والاستدامة في قطاعات العمارة والتصميم والهندسة والإنشاءات وإدارة المباني، مؤكدةً التزامها بالعمل مع المطوّرين والحكومات وروّاد الابتكار لفتح آفاقٍ جديدةٍ في تطوير البيئة العمرانية الحديثة.