Sheikh Mohammed Awards UAE Top Students with Cash Prizes

In a delightful surprise, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, awarded top high school graduates with cash prizes and heartfelt messages.

The UAE's top eight students for the academic year 2023-2024 received thousands of dirhams each, along with an inspirational message from the Sheikh himself. The message, “We are proud of you and we bet on you,” was engraved on the gift boxes, adding a personal touch to the generous reward.

Alia Hassan, one of the recipients, plans to use her prize to buy a car. Aspiring to study physics at Khalifa University, Alia shared her excitement with Khaleej Times, expressing her delight and surprise at being a top performer. Her English teacher, Aziza Al Ghafri, praised Alia's dedication, seeing her as a "second teacher in the class."

Another top student, Maryam Al Zaabi, felt a deep sense of responsibility with her gift. The message "We bet on you" inspired her to live up to the trust placed in her by the nation's leaders. Maryam's dedication was evident as she shared, “I hope I am worthy of this trust.”

The students received news of their awards from the Dubai Media Office. Each topper also received a certificate signed by Sheikh Mohammed, celebrating their excellence and encouraging them to contribute to the UAE's growth and prosperity.

Mayed Al Hamoudi from Al Fujairah Institute of Applied Technology was not surprised by his academic success but was pleasantly surprised by the generous gift, which he plans to use for his medical education. Similarly, Waleed Al Asadi from International School Abu Dhabi intends to invest his prize money in his studies in human medicine, a goal he has pursued for years.

Abdullah Mohammed, another aspiring medical student specializing in cardiac surgery, saw the gift as a culmination of his hard work. His mother proudly shared that Abdullah had consistently been a top student, following the path of his elder brother.

Alyazia Al Shamsi, who scored an impressive 99 percent, expressed her gratitude and shared her ambitions. After winning the Emirates Skills Competition, she now aims to excel in the WorldSkills competition and represent her beloved country on the global stage.

The heartfelt gestures from Sheikh Mohammed not only reward academic excellence but also inspire the next generation of leaders to dream big and strive for greatness.