Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Attends Graduation of 12th National Defense Course at NDC Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, attended the graduation ceremony of the 12th National Defense Course (2024–2025) at the headquarters of the National Defence College (NDC) in Abu Dhabi.
The ceremony was also graced by Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Fadel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defense Affairs, alongside a number of senior officials, military officers, and academic figures.
His Highness extended warm congratulations to the graduates, commending their diligent efforts and high level of competence throughout an intensive academic and field-based vocational programme. He praised their readiness to contribute meaningfully to the UAE’s continued path of sustainable development, particularly in the areas of national security, defense, innovation, and strategic foresight.
H.H. Sheikh Saif also highlighted the pivotal role of the National Defence College in shaping the next generation of strategic thinkers and national leaders, lauding the institution as a beacon of excellence in defense education. He acknowledged the college’s continued success in equipping military and civilian cadres with the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively manage complex national and global challenges.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Staff Brigadier Saeed Hassan Mohamed Alyammahi, Commandant of the National Defence College, expressed pride in graduating a distinguished group of leaders from both military and civil sectors. He underscored the college’s mission to foster a strategic educational environment, one that prepares leaders capable of comprehensively analysing the national security ecosystem and engaging with evolving regional and international dynamics.
He added that the college remains committed to aligning its academic programmes with national priorities, ensuring that its graduates are well-prepared to address challenges spanning security, geopolitics, economics, and technology, through strategic thinking, innovation, and forward-looking leadership.
This year’s course was conducted under the theme “Year of Community”, in line with the UAE’s broader initiative to promote social cohesion and national awareness. This theme, Brigadier Alyammahi noted, was woven throughout the curriculum to reinforce the importance of unity and collective responsibility in safeguarding the UAE’s national interests.
The event concluded with the awarding of certificates to the graduates, reaffirming the National Defence College’s commitment to empowering national talent and supporting the UAE’s enduring mission of security, progress, and resilience.
