ABU DHABI, 14th May, 2017 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, has witnessed this evenings graduation celebration at Zayed University of 75 exceptional Bachelors and Masters degree students of different specialties from the 2015/2016 school year who achieved the level of "distinction", including 69 Masters degree students and six Bachelors degree students.

Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance and President of Zayed University, extended her appreciation and gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their brothers, Their Highnesses the Sheikhs, the Members of the Federal Supreme Council the Rulers of the UAE, for their solid and continuous support for education and higher education, and for making education and innovation the main cornerstones of achieving the goals of overall development.

She expressed the feelings of pride and gratitude for the generous patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for her sons and daughters, the graduates, and her prompt monitoring of all stages of their educational development, her support for their successes and her honouring their excellence and exceptional achievements.

In her speech during the celebration, she noted, "The occasion that we have gathered for today is at the forefront of the happiness agenda of the activities and events of each academic year of the university, as an inclusive and comprehensive celebration awaited by the students to reap the fruits of a long journey, which will take them from the past to the future."She also spoke of her appreciation and deepest gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, for His Highnesss unlimited encouragement for exceptionalism, excellence and pioneering, and his initiatives and generous gestures for supporting Zayed University to express its message in the best way possible.

She also expressed her deepest gratitude and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for his patronage and constant support for the universitys progress.

At the end of her speech, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi expressed her appreciation for the members of the administrative and educational bodies of Zayed University, which work with dedication to prepare qualified manpower who are capable of contributing to the nations sustainable development.

Student Sheikha Matar Al Khayal, who was awarded a Masters degree in Literature in Communication and specialising in Tourism and Cultural Communication, spoke on behalf of the graduates, noting that the countrys wise leadership desires to follow and sponsor those who excel, which raises the feeling of responsibility towards their home.

At the end of the celebration, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan distributed certificates to the graduates.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmad bin Abdulla Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education; Shamma bint Sohail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Riyad Abdulrahman Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Finance Department and Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Ali Rashid Al Ketbi, Acting Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Human Resources Authority; Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Dr. Riad Al Muhaidib, Director of Zayed University; Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, and Ali bin Hamoodah Al Dhaheri, Member of the Board of Zayed University.

The celebration was also attended by the administrative and educational bodies of Zayed University and the graduates families.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.