May 21, 2008

Abu Dhabi official visits Seattle to strengthen ties with UW

His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Omar Abdullah, Undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi Department for Planning and Economy and Chairman of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Academy, visited Seattle in June of 2008 to further the relationship between Abu Dhabi and Seattle, expanding the UAE Academy's ongoing partnership with the University of Washington (UW). On June 2, UW President Mark Emmert and Mohammed Omar Abdullah signed an agreement that will add courses to the program, and perhaps expand it to other Persian Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

UW is the only university to offer certificate programs in the UAE

In a country of 3.5 million where the majority of the population is non-Emirati, UAE leaders have set policies to increase the number of Emirati professionals in the workforce. One strategy toward "Emiratization" is to increase the pool of qualified Emirati job seekers. The UAE Academy, founded by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, is at the forefront of the country's efforts in human resources development. UW certificate programs support this effort by offering post-graduate training that bridges the gap between university education in the UAE and practical application in the corporate arena.

The partnership marks the first time the UW has established a base to teach foreign nationals in their own country.

For more information on UW's partnership with Abudabi, read the press release.