• Two UAE students awarded scholarships to pursue postgraduate studies at the prestigious university
• Rhodes Trust confirms scholarships underscoring nation’s commitment to youth-led global leadership

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 25 November 2025 | Two exceptional students have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 UAE Rhodes Scholarship, securing their places for postgraduate studies at the prestigious University of Oxford in 2026. Both recipients will join a global cohort of changemakers at the University of Oxford in October 2026, where they will pursue postgraduate degrees aligned with their aspirations to create meaningful impact in their respective fields.

This year’s winners are Amal Musa Ali Alrebh, a 22-year-old Emirati who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at Khalifa University and Fatima Mohammed Abdulla AlNuaimi, a 24-year-old Emirati studying English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. They were chosen from a competitive pool, by the UAE Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. They demonstrated the Scholarship’s cornerstone criteria; exceptional intellect, leadership, moral character, and a dedication to service, values that directly align with the strategic goals of the National Youth Agenda 2031 to maximise Emirati youth contribution across all key sectors.

The announcement follows a rigorous selection process led by the UAE Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee which comprises both UAE leaders and former Rhodes Scholars, and is chaired by His Excellency Omar Saif Ghobash, Advisor to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.

H.E. Omar Saif Ghobash, Chair of the UAE Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee and Advisor to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “Each year, we are inspired by the talent, purpose, and conviction of the young people who come before the Selection Committee. Rhodes Scholars embody the UAE’s enduring belief in education as a catalyst for growth on individual, national, and global levels,”

“Academia, knowledge exchange, and intellectual curiosity are essential to nurturing cohesive, forward-looking societies. It is this fundamental link that is embodied by Rhodes Scholars, who are renowned for their outstanding academic ability and purpose-driven leadership. We look forward to seeing how this new generation will build upon this powerful global legacy by contributing directly to the UAE’s progress and our shared commitment to global advancement.” he concluded.

Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, which endows the scholarship, said: “Behind every Rhodes Scholar is a story of perseverance, purpose, and mentorship. The Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation believes the UAE’s greatest investment lies in creating environments where young people can learn, grow, and lead with integrity. The UAE Rhodes Scholarship reflects this belief, offering a legacy of learning that connects our country to global knowledge and innovation networks. Since its introduction in the Emirates, the program has empowered gifted students to advance their education, return home, and help shape the future of the UAE. That is the true power of education: its ability to multiply impact and inspire future generations.”

Born and raised in Dubai, Ms. Alrebh’s studies in Biomedical Engineering have led her to explore the intersection of technology, medicine, and global policy. Her undergraduate journey included international exchanges and clinical oncology research, shaping her vision for culturally and sustainably grounded healthcare solutions in the UAE. At the University of Oxford, she will pursue a master’s in healthcare improvement and evaluation and a master’s in medical physics.

“I see Biomedical Engineering not just as a science, but as a commitment to human beneficence. At Oxford, I aim to integrate advanced medical technology and policy to build a healthcare sector that is culturally grounded and perfectly tailored to serve our people, embodying the values of service and innovation instilled by our nation’s leaders,” said Alrebh.

Ms. AlNuaimi hails from Ajman and majored in English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Her academic work has been shaped by a deep focus on literatures underrepresented in the discipline, particularly emerging Gulf literature. She will pursue a Master of Studies in World Literature at the prestigious University of Oxford.

“My journey is driven by the belief that literature is a crucial lens through which to understand our world’s complexities. I am committed to integrating marginalized regional narratives into the heart of global literary discussion. Oxford’s World Literature program, combined with the cross-disciplinary Rhodes cohort, will empower me to contribute to the UAE’s academic and creative spaces, ultimately bridging gaps of understanding and connecting our regional voices to the world stage,” commented AlNuaimi.

Since its introduction in 2013, the UAE Rhodes Scholarship, supported by Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, has awarded 26 Scholars to join Oxford’s distinguished international community of nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars. This investment in world-class education is central to achieving the UAE Centennial 2071 plan, which aims to equip future generations with the advanced skills and values needed to make the UAE the world’s best country. The immediate impact of the programme is clear: Earlier Emirati Rhodes Scholars serve at the highest levels of government and lead across key sectors of the UAE’s economy and society.

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About the Rhodes Scholarship for the UAE:

Two Rhodes Scholarships are available in the United Arab Emirates to enable outstanding students, chosen on the basis of exceptional intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service – to study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship for the United Arab Emirates, initially called Falcon Scholarships, was launched in 2013, with the first Scholars going to Oxford in 2014.

The Rhodes Scholarship selection process for the UAE is overseen by an expert and diverse Selection Committee, ensuring a broad and balanced perspective in evaluating candidates. This Committee is purposefully drawn from varied professional and academic fields, bringing together the valuable insights of both distinguished Rhodes Scholars and other highly accomplished non-Rhodes Scholars.

Crucially, the selection is conducted with complete independence by the Rhodes Trust, guaranteeing a merit-based and impartial process.

Further information can be found here.

About the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation:

Founded in 2008, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation is a beliefs-driven laboratory that uses creativity to contribute to the UAE’s next era of transformation. The private family foundation, based in Abu Dhabi, oversees a diverse portfolio of impact-driven programmes across creative entrepreneurship, national storytelling, and the future of education.

In creative entrepreneurship, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation invests in nurturing and supporting creative talent in the UAE by building creative capabilities, cultivating creative communities, and funding the development of original UAE intellectual property. As part of this mission, the foundation operates several social businesses in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, designed to strengthen the nation’s creative ecosystem and expand opportunities for emerging and established creators.

Through the UAE National Storytelling Projects, the Foundation designs, develops, and operates platforms that express national identity for both domestic and international audiences. These initiatives use storytelling to articulate the vision of the UAE, enhance global understanding, and celebrate the country’s contemporary cultural narrative. Among these projects are the Year of initiatives, Eid Al Etihad, the UAE Expo Office, and the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

In education, the Foundation serves as a think tank focused on incubating and developing a home-grown approach to quality education that accelerates the UAE’s national ambitions. The Future of Education Project seeks to design an Emirati model for education and works with national stakeholders to support the transformation of the education sector toward this new, forward-looking vision.

Further information can be found here.

About the Rhodes Trust:

The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, brings together and develops exceptional people from all over the world, and in all fields of study, who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act.

The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards providing transformative educational opportunities. Established in 1903, they are the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international graduate scholarship programme in the world.  Nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars have gone on to serve at the forefront of government, education, the arts, NGOs, commerce, research, and other sectors. They are well known advocates for expanded social justice and have advanced the frontiers of science and medicine. The Rhodes Trust provides the Rhodes Scholarships in partnership with its Second Century Founders, John McCall MacBain O.C., The Atlantic Philanthropies, and other generous benefactors.

In recent years the Rhodes Trust has also partnered with several other remarkable organisations to create:

• The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, focused on providing postgraduate educational opportunities and building exceptional leadership capacity in Africa.
• The Atlantic Institute, acting as a knowledge sharing and supportive hub for the seven interconnected Atlantic Fellows programs, assisting this diverse community of leaders working to advance fairer, healthier, more inclusive societies.
• The Schmidt Science Fellows program, seeking to expand the horizons of the next generation of leaders and innovators in the natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computing.