Ideas Abu Dhabi Hosts UAE Rhodes Scholars on Global Challenges

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

Ideas Abu Dhabi, a big event by Tamkeen with the Aspen Institute and the Clinton Global Initiative, brought together UAE Rhodes Scholars, business leaders, and community leaders. Former US President Bill Clinton led the session, talking about how young leaders can work together and take action on important world problems. This was the sixth Ideas Abu Dhabi event and marked ten years of the UAE Rhodes Scholarship.

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The event was held with the Clinton Global Initiative, Rhodes Trust, and the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. It gathered twelve UAE Rhodes Scholars, including Sheikha Majida Al Maktoum, who works at the Dubai Executive Council; Amal Al Gergawi, a researcher at NYU Abu Dhabi Marine Biology Lab; and Abdulla AlHashmi, who works at McKinsey. Others present included Professor Sir Rick Trainor, head of Rhodes House, and Khulood Khaldoon Al Atiyat, a senior strategist at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation.

Rima Al Mokarrab, who leads Ideas Abu Dhabi and Tamkeen, guided the discussion. The talk was about helping young leaders learn how to solve world problems with purpose and vision. Bill Clinton said that leadership starts with how people see the world. He said this time in history is more connected than ever and that people must share wealth and opportunities fairly. He also said people should not be put into groups that limit their potential.

Rima Al Mokarrab said the world is changing fast, especially with technology like artificial intelligence, which is changing businesses, schools, and governments. At the same time, the world faces big problems like climate change, health issues, and unfair wealth distribution. She said Ideas Abu Dhabi helps people come together to find solutions, start new ideas, and turn talks into real action. She also said it was an honor to welcome President Bill Clinton, who has spent his life bringing people together. His ideas help young leaders understand how to handle the challenges of today’s world.

The Rhodes Scholarship is a respected award that helps brilliant students study at Oxford University in the UK. The UAE’s Rhodes Scholars have done great things, including Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, the first Emirati Rhodes Scholar. Professor Sir Rick Trainor said the Rhodes Trust picks outstanding students to join their global community at Oxford. He is excited about what the 2025 scholars and future students will achieve as they grow into great leaders.

Angela Migally, who leads the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, spoke about the Rhodes Scholarship’s ten-year journey. She said this scholarship gives bright students a big chance to study at one of the world’s best universities. Being part of this group helps students give back to their country and the world. She said the last ten years show the UAE’s strong support for honest and responsible leadership.

Since it began in 2017, Ideas Abu Dhabi has brought together over a thousand world leaders to solve big global issues. The event keeps making Abu Dhabi a place where people from different backgrounds meet to create progress. This year, Ideas Abu Dhabi continued its work with the Clinton Global Initiative to solve world problems. Last year, Tamkeen started a Global FoodTech Challenge, offering $2 million to projects working on food and water shortages in a changing climate.