Under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chancellor of MBRU and Chairman of Dubai Academic Health Corporation’s Board of Directors, the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) celebrated the graduation of the ‘Class of Khalifa’ last evening in a historic ceremony at Dubai Opera. The event was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Academic Health Corporation’s Board of Directors.

The Class of Khalifa included the first cohort to graduate from the College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program, in addition to a new cohort of graduates from the postgraduate programs at Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum congratulated the Class of Khalifa and expressed his pride in their achievements, emphasizing that a class proudly bestowed with the name of the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan will follow his wise vision and be inspired by his legacy.

His Highness stressed that MBRU’s achievements are in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a global centre of excellence for both education and healthcare. His Highness also highlighted that the health sector in Dubai is seeing a major leap since the establishment of Dubai Academic Health Corporation by integrating medical education, healthcare, and scientific research. This integration will provide graduates with a nurturing environment that will allow them to achieve better health outcomes for members of the community.

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed the valuable role MBRU plays in preparing qualified healthcare professionals to continuously raise the quality of medical services and prepare for the future. His Highness expressed confidence that today’s graduates will contribute to strengthening the health sector in line with the vision of the leadership. He also highlighted the importance of this sector in light of the challenges the world has experienced in recent years. His Highness urged the Class of Khalifa to continue their educational journey, putting the patient’s health first in everything they do.

The ceremony’s guest of honor, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, delivered the commencement address at the event. “This university inspired and made possible by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, has bestowed upon you a world-class education. Yet it is you who are on the frontline – only you – and it is your talent, your commitment and your compassion that will determine the shape of our shared future,” Al Hashimy said in her address.

Her Excellency Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Member of Dubai Academic Health Corporation’s Board of Directors, delivered the opening speech on behalf of MBRU’s Chancellor, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, encouraging the graduates to use their experience and knowledge in promoting healthcare, medical education, and research to advance health and serve humanity.

In his welcome address, Dr. Amer Sharif, President of MBRU and CEO of Dubai Academic Health Corporation, thanked the leadership whose exceptional support and trust played a significant role in the University’s development and growth. He also praised the tireless efforts of the students, the MBRU team, the University’s academic partner, Queen’s University Belfast, and all MBRU’s friends, partners, supporters, and donors who trusted the University’s vision and contributed to realizing its goals.

The Class of Khalifa consists of 108 graduates including 40 from the first cohort of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at the College of Medicine, and 54 from the Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine with master’s degrees in various dental specialties. The graduating cohort also included the first cohort of master’s students in biomedical sciences and the first cohort of master’s students in cardiovascular nursing and pediatric nursing at the College of Nursing and Midwifery.

The cohort also comprised the first graduates from Al Jalila Children’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program run in academic partnership with MBRU. The program is accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.

During the ceremony, the first cohort of Kuwaiti dental specialists was also honored. The graduates studied at MBRU as part of an agreement with The Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization.

MBRU was established on June 9, 2016, through a decree of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Within six years, MBRU was one of seven universities in the UAE that achieved a high-confidence accreditation from the Ministry of Education. It has produced more than 800 peer-reviewed publications and more than 200 graduates, and currently offers 18 programs in various health specialties.