UAE National Experts Program Expands: 25 New Experts from Diverse Sectors Join Fourth Cohort

The UAE National Experts Program (NEP) has announced the selection of 25 participants for its fourth cohort. This 12-month program is designed to develop national experts across various fields and will be led by 25 mentors. This initiative follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who has emphasized the importance of fostering a skilled national workforce.

Leadership and Support from His Highness Sheikh Theyab

The fourth cohort of the NEP is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs’ Families. His Highness Sheikh Theyab emphasized that the program reflects the UAE’s dedication to nurturing intellectual and professional capacities that can effectively address societal challenges. The program’s purpose is not only to advance the UAE’s development but also to create innovative solutions that serve global interests.

His Highness said, “The NEP was a principal platform for capacity building for Emirati experts in the UAE, and for enhancing their skills in areas of national priority in accordance with the futuristic development trajectories of the country. The program will also sharpen their forward-thinking ability to achieve strategic goals in different domains.”

His Highness continued: “Experts are the nucleus of progress, and their specialist skills play a pivotal role in building a bright future for the UAE. Through these, knowledge, innovation, science and inventions flourish, leading to the nation’s development in various fields, especially those that involve meeting challenges and transforming them into opportunities for the purpose of sustainable progress.”

Commitment to Innovation and Societal Growth

According to His Highness, the NEP embodies the UAE's commitment to harnessing diverse expertise and fostering creative solutions for a more sustainable future. The program is aimed at fostering a collaborative environment where knowledge, skills, and unique competencies contribute to a more prosperous and resilient society. This emphasis on intellectual and professional growth is expected to yield benefits that extend beyond the UAE, promoting a future where knowledge-sharing and innovation drive global progress.

Diverse Cohort Selected through Rigorous Standards

His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, Director of the NEP, praised the diversity and caliber of the fourth cohort. The selected group includes 13 women and 12 men, chosen from a pool of approximately 1,180 applicants. These participants were selected based on rigorous global competitiveness standards, ensuring that only the most promising candidates were chosen to participate in this prestigious program. The presence of such a diverse and talented group demonstrates the UAE’s dedication to advancing inclusivity and excellence in its national development programs.

“Starting from the selection stage through the use of an advanced artificial intelligence system to identify the best 250 applicants, via the evaluation stage and the interview to the final stage under the supervision of a committee of experts, they underwent rigorous assessments. The fourth batch is full of high academic achievers, including 24% PhD holders, and 76% Master’s degree holders,” he explained.

His Excellency said that the participants will train under the experts in 25 main sectors that fall into three economic groups: economic and social development, sustainability and infrastructure. “These three groups include diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, financial services, security, defence solutions, charitable work, foreign affairs, policy-making, biodiversity, space, and food and water security. Together, these fields constitute the basic pillars for achieving the strategic goals of the UAE,” he concluded.