Applications open for second year of prestigious Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) today announced the opening of applications for the second year of the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme. The pioneering programme was launched in 2024 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

The scholarship programme – part of Dubai Social Agenda 33 and aligned with the Education 33 strategy – is designed to support the growth and development of outstanding Emirati students by providing access to the world’s top universities and preparing them to become the future leaders of Dubai. With a total budget of AED 1.1 billion, the programme offers 100 fully funded scholarships every year for exceptional Emirati high school graduates.

The programme drew a strong response from high achieving Emirati students in its first year. All recipients of the scholarship were accepted to universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, or into programmes ranked among the top 100 globally. Around 15% of the first cohort are enrolled in universities ranked in the world’s top 20, or in programmes ranked among the top 10 globally.  Students chose to pursue their undergraduate studies in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, choosing a wide range of specialisations, from technology, computer science and engineering to medicine, law and finance, reflecting Dubai’s future-focused development priorities.

Dr Amna Almaazmi, CEO of Growth and Human Development at KHDA said: “The Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme is a powerful investment in our youth by our wise leadership, and a key pillar of the Education 33 strategy and Dubai Social Agenda 33. By equipping the next generation of Emiratis with global knowledge and experience, we are helping them realise their potential and contribute to building a more dynamic, sustainable, and innovative future for Dubai.

“We are proud of the achievements of the first cohort, and we look forward to supporting more outstanding students as they take their first steps toward becoming global citizens and future leaders, and we encourage Emirati families across Dubai to take advantage of this prestigious opportunity. By supporting their children’s academic journey and personal aspirations, families play an essential role in building a strong and prosperous future for our community and our city.”

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are open from May 8 to June 30, 2025. The scholarship is open to Emirati students who have completed high school during the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. Citizens must hold a family book from Dubai and should not have received any other scholarship offers.

Eligible students can apply through the “Emirati” section on the Dubai Now app.

More information on the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme and the eligibility criteria is available on the KHDA website.