MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI)
The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) on Monday welcomed families, prospective students, and members of the community to explore its academic programmes, facilities, and mission as a leading diplomatic institution in the region.
Dr Mohammed Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director of AGDA, said the main goal of the Open Day is to create direct engagement between the academy and potential candidates.
“The Open Day allows families and future students to interact with AGDA employees, experience the campus environment, learn about our activities, and ask questions directly to better understand our academic programs,” he said.
Dr Al Dhaheri noted that the event reflects AGDA’s broader mission to be an internationally impactful institution. Through community engagement, the academy communicates the UAE’s core principles anchored on stability, peace, prosperity, and a forward-looking vision.
“We aim not only to explain diplomacy but also to tell the UAE’s story to the world,” he added.
Highlighting AGDA’s role in career development, Dr Al Dhaheri pointed to the academy’s diverse academic offerings, including three master’s programmes and a postgraduate diploma, alongside regular events addressing political, economic, social, cultural, and future-oriented topics such as artificial intelligence. These initiatives provide students with opportunities to engage, network, and broaden their understanding beyond the classroom.
As AGDA marks 10 years since its establishment, Dr Al Dhaheri reflected on its evolution from a purely academic institution into an international platform that hosts high-level global figures, including presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers. He also emphasised AGDA’s role in Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy, supporting the UAE’s mediation efforts and fostering dialogue among decision-makers, think tanks, universities, and communities.
Diplomacy is more than a profession, Dr Al Dhaheri said in a message to prospective students.
“Diplomacy is a lifestyle. Passion is essential to succeed in this field.”
Students Salama Al Gaithi and Nouf Al Ali from Sorbonne University were among those who attended the event, both hoping to join the prestigious academy.
Al Gaithi said it has always been her dream to become a diplomat, and AGDA — being the most prominent diplomatic academy in the region — was a natural choice for her higher studies. A graduate of history and international relations, she expressed particular interest in earning a postgraduate diploma from the academy.
Prof Eric Canal-Forgues Alter, Dean of Graduate Programmes at AGDA, highlighted the academy’s comprehensive approach to preparing future diplomats. He explained that AGDA equips students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including diplomatic writing, protocol, and etiquette, alongside studies in international relations, law, leadership, humanitarian action, and human rights.
“Our aim is to prepare talented individuals from the UAE to meet global challenges and demonstrate how the country is developing the next generation of diplomatic leaders,” he said.
Prof Canal-Forgues emphasised that AGDA’s programmes are open to students from diverse academic backgrounds, noting that while legal knowledge is valuable, the academy welcomes candidates from various disciplines and supports them in mastering complex diplomatic subjects.
The Open Day also featured insights from Meera Al Baloushi, a student from the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, who expressed interest in AGDA’s postgraduate diploma. She highlighted how her academic background in coexistence and tolerance inspired her to explore diplomacy-related fields that contribute to building peace and reflecting the UAE’s values internationally. Meera noted that AGDA’s programmes empower youth with global perspectives, leadership skills, and practical experience that strengthen their professional profiles and prepare them for future diplomatic roles.