QS Africa Forum 2026 welcome message

Distinguished guests, colleagues, partners, and friends,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the QS Africa Forum.

On behalf of United Arab Emirates University, I extend my warmest greetings to the university leaders, policymakers, researchers, students, and industry partners joining this important gathering. We are honoured to support a forum that brings together such distinguished voices to discuss the future of higher education in Africa, and its vital role in shaping sustainable, knowledge-based societies.

The theme of this forum speaks directly to one of the defining responsibilities of universities today: to prepare young people not only for employment, but for leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, service to their communities, and the sustainable development of their nations and the planet.

This forum provides an important platform to discuss the skills, systems, and partnerships required to meet the needs of a growing youth population, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence, rapid technological transformation, and the urgent need to attract, develop, and retain human talent.

This year, United Arab Emirates University celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over five decades, UAEU has grown from the nation’s first university into its national flagship institution. Its mission has been to develop generations of leaders, advance scientific research relevant to the UAE and the wider region, and serve society through innovation, knowledge, and partnership.

In a time of global instability, uncertainty, and geopolitical fragmentation, universities also have a renewed responsibility to provide leadership grounded in clarity of purpose, ethical responsibility, and strategic foresight. In this, we continue to draw inspiration from the enduring legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision emphasised purposeful leadership, pragmatic action, stability, cooperation, and service to humanity. These principles continue to guide the outcomes the UAE University seeks through our research, our academic programmes, and our partnerships.

The challenges before the UAE, the region, Africa, and the world cannot be solved by one university, one country, or one continent alone.

That is why this forum is so important. It creates a space for dialogue, partnership, and shared action. It reminds us that higher education is a pathway to human agency and dignity, and is a foundation for national resilience, regional cooperation, and global progress.

I commend QS for convening this timely forum, and I welcome all participants to engage openly and ambitiously. May your discussions lead to meaningful partnerships, practical ideas, and lasting impact for students, institutions, and communities across Africa, the UAE, and the wider world.

Welcome to the QS Africa Forum. I wish you every success.

Thank you.

H.E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh

Cultural Advisor to HH the President of the UAE,

The Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University

‍