His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Health and President of Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRUMedHS), attended the graduation ceremony for the class of 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, marking the university's 10th anniversary.
The class of 2026 comprised 184 graduates — male and female — from 40 academic programmes across various medical disciplines, drawn from the College of Medicine, Hind bint Maktoum College of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, and the Deanship of Postgraduate Medical Studies. The university embodies Dubai Health's vision of advancing human health through medical education and scientific research.
On this occasion, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum congratulated the graduates and their families, commending the dedication and diligence they demonstrated throughout their academic journey, and affirming the importance of their role in supporting the future of the healthcare sector and serving the community.
He said: "The successes the university has achieved throughout its journey are the result of the continuous support and forward-looking vision of the wise leadership, which has made the advancement of human health a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and has strengthened the healthcare sector's readiness to meet the demands of the future."
Sheikh Ahmed called on the graduates to uphold their humanitarian mission and professional responsibility in serving the community, to pursue continuous learning and professional development, and to contribute to sustaining the healthcare system.
Dr. Raja Eisa Al Gurg, Board Member of Dubai Health and Chair of the MBRUMedHS Council, said: "Since its founding 10 years ago, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences has carried an ambitious vision to prepare generations of medical professionals who combine scientific excellence, professional skill, and humanitarian commitment. Today we are proud to see this vision embodied in our graduates, whom we trust will be a qualitative addition to the healthcare sector, contributing effectively to developing the healthcare system and enriching the journey of scientific research in ways that serve their communities and meet the aspirations of the future."
Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, affirmed in her address during the ceremony that the wise leadership has entrenched the principle that the value of achievements is measured by their positive impact on human life — a message that the health professions embody daily through the service, dedication, and humanity they provide.
She noted that this graduation carries special significance as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the founding of MBRUMedHS, which within a single decade has succeeded in establishing itself as a centre of excellence in medical education and scientific research, with its influence extending beyond the country's borders.
She offered graduates a set of inspiring counsels, affirming that the medical mission goes beyond treating illness to advancing knowledge and pursuing discoveries that improve people's lives. She noted that knowledge opens doors, but empathy opens hearts, and that scientific and technological progress, no matter how advanced, cannot replace the human values that medical professionals embody through listening, empathy, and sincere care.
Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health and Director of MBRUMedHS, said: "As we celebrate 10 years since the founding of Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, I extend my thanks to the wise leadership for its continuous support, as well as to the members of the Dubai Health board of directors and all who have contributed to its journey — faculty and administrative staff, researchers, work teams, and partners."
He added: "Over the course of a decade, their efforts have helped establish the university as a fundamental pillar within our integrated academic health system, which brings together medical education, healthcare, scientific research, and service under one umbrella, contributing to achieving our vision of advancing human health."
Speaking on behalf of the class of 2026 graduates, Dr. Mohammed Al Breiki said the cohort began its academic journey in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic — exceptional circumstances that taught them the importance of adaptability and working with a spirit of responsibility, and that contributed to deepening their knowledge and experience and reinforcing their belief in their humanitarian mission to serve patients, embodying Dubai Health's pledge: the patient comes first.
Over its decade of existence, MBRUMedHS has accumulated a record of achievements that have cemented its position as a leading academic and healthcare centre. In 2016, the university's College of Medicine was inaugurated, contributing to the launch of Dubai's first organ transplantation programme. In 2018, a medical team from the university and Latifa Hospital for Children — part of Dubai Health — performed the first paediatric kidney transplant in Dubai, alongside conducting the first complete genome sequencing in the United Arab Emirates.
In 2019, an advanced training programme for astronauts in medicine and scientific research was launched in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, reflecting the university's role in supporting innovation and scientific research in future fields. The year 2020 saw the launch of a college of nursing and midwifery, alongside the introduction of master's and doctoral programmes in biomedical sciences within the College of Medicine, in support of developing qualified healthcare professionals and strengthening the education and research system.
In 2022, the university celebrated the graduation of the "Khalifa" cohort, which included the first group of graduates from the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Midwifery. In 2025, the College of Nursing and Midwifery was named after Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, in recognition of her prominent role in supporting education and health.
The university now counts more than 500 graduates from its various academic programmes, a number of whom have joined residency programmes at leading academic and medical institutions, including Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, UMass Chan Medical School, and the University of Toronto.
Over 10 years, the university has enriched the scientific landscape by publishing more than 2,362 research papers in internationally peer-reviewed journals. Ten advanced research centres have also been established across various medical specialisations, operating in an integrated manner with the healthcare and medical education facilities within the Dubai Health system, enabling research talent to translate scientific knowledge into practical applications that contribute to developing health practices and enhancing quality of life.
Over the course of 10 years, the university has forged a series of academic and clinical partnerships with some of the world's most prominent institutions, including Queen's University Belfast in the United Kingdom and the Mediclinic medical group, driven by a shared vision to advance medical education and scientific research in healthcare.