His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research and Chancellor of the UAE University announced today massive plans for the development of a new campus in Al Ain that will accommodate up to 19,000 students, in collaboration with Mubadala Development Company.

A 28 year Concession Agreement that will enable the development of the new campus on a BOOT (Build Own Operate and Transfer) basis was signed today between the University and Mubadala Development.

Mubadala Development and other institutional investors will be the main shareholders in the project. “In line with the vision and directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the efforts of Lt. General Staff Pilot His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, we continue to dedicate our efforts to providing our future generations with the best educational environment and capabilities,” Sheikh Nahyan said following the signing ceremony.

The new 280,000 - square meter campus will consist of state of the art educational facilities, as well as sport and residences accommodations and will be built in a four- phase period of six years in the University’s 80 - hectare site at Al Maqam in Al Ain. “The UAE University will work closely with Mubadala Development in ensuring that all its requirements for creating a world-class campus that will encourage academic achievement are met at the various stages of the project from the design concept to operations.” said Dr. Hadef Al Dhaheri, Vice Chancellor of the UAE University. He added “This precedent setting cooperation with Mubadala Development is the fruit of many months of concerted efforts by the parties and is a testimony to the increasing opportunities for more partnerships between the public and private sectors in vital areas such as education”.

Mubadala Development is an investment company wholly owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi. Set up in October 2002 through Emiri decree No. 12 of 2002, Mubadala Development has the mandate to establish new companies or to acquire stakes in existing companies in the UAE or abroad and to focus on generating sustainable economic benefits for the emirate of Abu Dhabi through partnerships with local, regional and international investors.

The UAE University is the oldest and largest public higher education institution in the UAE. The University provides a wide variety of programs to over 17,000 students.