Emirates Scholar Centre charts next phase after Abu Dhabi Book Fair success
Leaders of the Emirates Scholar Centre met in Abu Dhabi to review achievements, set targets for the next phase and plan partnerships to boost research quality and community engagement.
Centre reviews achievements and sets priorities for next phase
The Emirates Scholar Centre convened a strategy meeting in Abu Dhabi under the chairmanship of Dr Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi to assess recent progress and agree a roadmap for its next phase. Present were Dr Firas Habbal, President of the Centre; Dr Fawaz Habbal, Director‑General; Dr Yousef Al Ali, Head of the Advisory Committee and member of the Board of Trustees; and senior Centre staff.
Participants reviewed the Centre’s participation in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, underlining the event as a milestone for public engagement. The Centre’s pavilion received more than 800 visitors, while 200 new researchers joined the Centre’s network and 100 individuals registered for membership at the stand.
Delegates discussed a package of forthcoming programmes and initiatives designed to strengthen academic and institutional partnerships both within the UAE and internationally. Emphasis was placed on expanding community involvement in research projects, improving the standard of scientific publishing and aligning the Centre’s work with national research priorities.
The meeting placed particular focus on translating the Centre’s objectives into measurable performance indicators to ensure systematic follow‑up and to evaluate the impact of its initiatives. The leadership signalled that regular monitoring would be scheduled to track implementation and to refine actions where necessary.
Participants also explored measures to empower Emirati researchers and national talent, including providing an enabling environment for scientific contributions and increasing opportunities for Emirati work to reach international audiences. The Centre aims to act as a bridge between local research production and global academic networks.
Dr Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi set out the Centre’s broader ambition: to raise the international profile of Emirati research and to foster greater engagement between researchers, institutions and policymakers. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to intensify academic cooperation, broaden community participation and ensure the Centre’s outputs support both policymaking and wider societal needs.
The board affirmed that these efforts are in line with the UAE’s transition towards a knowledge‑based economy and with national strategies to position the country as a global destination for science and innovation.
Source: WAM