The Zayed Building was inaugurated by Dubai crown
prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum. Sheikh Hamdan is himself a graduate of
the academy.
The UAE donated 880 million dirhams ($240 million)
for the construction of the building, in recognition
of the fact that Sandhurst was one of the first
international educational institutions to accept
UAE students, and has been doing so for four decades.
The four entrances of the premises are decorated
with the colours of the UAE flag while the main
entrance is adorned with seven columns carrying
the names of the seven emirates of the UAE, Emirates
News Agency WAM reported.
Sheikh Hamdan also met six UAE cadets -- four
men and two women. The women are the first from
the UAE to join the academy. So far, 210 UAE cadets
have graduated from Sandhurst.
Shaikh Zayed, highly respected for his pragmatic,
moderate and development-oriented policies, had
passed away in 2004.
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