His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today inaugurated the headquarters of Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Pilot Staff-Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority; Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Director of the Martyrs' Families' Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr. Ahmad bin Abdulla Humaid Belhoul AlFalasi, Minister of State for Higher Education, and Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Head of the Community Development Department, as well as several members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and senior officials at the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Armed Forces and the Abu Dhabi Police.

Upon his arrival at the academy, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was received by Mike Hindmarsh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rabdan Academy; Saif Mohammed Al Hajery, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Economic Development Department and Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of the Academy; James Morse, President of the Academy, and Dr. Faisal Obaid Al Ayyan, Vice President of the Academy, as well as several members of the academy’s founding committee.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed also launched the strategic plan of the Rabdan Academy, which reflects its future vision of supporting the country’s combined readiness, through encouraging joint training and learning.

While visiting some lectures at Rabdan Academy, His Highness was briefed by Dr. Al Ayyan about the academy’s departments, its research and scientific facilities, the advanced technologies used in its teaching curriculum and the efficiency of its academic and training personnel, as well as its close cooperation with national institutions, such as the Ministry of Interior, the Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Police and other authorities.

His Highness also met with several members of the academy’s Board of Trustees, and several teaching and administrative staff and students. He listened to a detailed explanation on the college’s educational curriculum and programmes, which aim to prepare future generations of UAE nationals who are capable of performing security and police missions and duties, as well as in other vital areas of the nation’s security and stability.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his happiness at seeing UAE nationals seeking excellence and innovation, and are aiming to promote their skills by acquiring greater knowledge, practical training and the required professional experience, to participate in and contribute to serving their country.

His Highness stressed that Rabdan Academy is part of a range of national academic institutions that aim to achieve sustainable development and enhance the capacities of Emiratis and have received the attention of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, through his support for the educational sector in the UAE.

His Highness Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi explained that the wise leadership has prioritised the national training of specialist human resources, to enhance their capacities and address relevant changes and developments, as well as to evaluate future challenges, especially in areas of national, regional and international security while understanding the management and employment requirements of the country’s capacities and resources, to protect the nation’s interests and achieve its strategic goals.

His Highness also met with the academy’s students who are about to graduate, and they exchanged conversation and took photos.

In the academy’s guestbook, His Highness wrote, "I was delighted today to visit this promising educational institution, which we hope will become a sound basis for promoting cooperation and coordination between our national institutions and will provide them with talented and qualified Emirati citizens who are capable of addressing modern and future challenges. My best wishes to the academy’s students and its teaching and administrative staff."

Sheikh Mohamed also attended the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, at the headquarters of the Rabdan Academy. The MoUs between the Rabdan Academy and the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and the Abu Dhabi Police, aim to promote cooperation in academic, research and technical areas, train scientific personnel on all specialisations in security and police work, and organise the required plans and programmes for training police and security officers in the UAE.

The MoUs were signed by Matar Salem Ali Al Dhaheri, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence; Lieutenant Saif Abdullah Al Sha’afar, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Interior; Major General Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Police, and Mike Hindmarsh on behalf of Rabdan Academy.

The agreements aim to reinforce the partnerships between the Rabdan Academy and the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and the Abu Dhabi Police, by establishing an academic and professional system according to the best and most advanced international standards in areas of safety, security, defence, emergency readiness and crisis management, as well as preparing academic programmes that can meet the country’ training and educational requirements.

They also include organising relevant workshops, seminars and conferences, as well as promoting mutual cooperation in the areas of research, development and innovation, and providing consultative and technical services, and exchanging relevant knowledge and information.