Good afternoon, dear students, faculty, and City University Ajman community.

I welcome you to the beginning of the 2025–26 academic year with great joy and anticipation. Whether you are a first-year student just beginning your higher education journey or a returning student continuing to advance toward your degree, I commend you for your decision to pursue higher education and for entrusting City University Ajman with your future.

We value your trust in choosing CUA.

You have chosen a university that is more than a place of learning. It is a thriving community. It represents different nationalities, cultures, and perspectives. Above all, your classroom discussions, friendships, and collaborations will cross boundaries and expand your worldview.

For our new students: I know the transition to university life may feel exciting and overwhelming. But you will not walk this path alone. You will be supported by your professors, dedicated advisors, and peers who will soon become lifelong friends.

For continuing students: you already know that CUA is where challenges become growth and effort transforms into opportunity.

From the start, I want to be clear: success is built on partnership. As your university, we will provide a supportive environment—modern facilities, strong academic programs, and opportunities beyond the classroom. As your president, I can promise that CUA will give you an environment that will help you thrive.

But your role is just as vital. To truly benefit, you must put in the effort, demonstrate responsibility, and uphold values that are core to CUA: respect, integrity, inclusivity, and commitment to learning. Your success will depend on your effort, curiosity, and dedication.

At CUA, credentials are not given but earned through demonstrated competency. Every grade reflects competency demonstrated through dedication and mastery. Your professors, advisors, and mentors will walk alongside you, but your discipline and resilience will turn opportunity into achievement.

So I ask you to commit yourselves to a genuine hunger for knowledge.

You are studying at an extraordinary moment in the UAE’s history. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the UAE has introduced the Outcome-Based Education Framework for all HEIs which includes six pillars: Employment Outcomes, Learning Outcomes, Industry Collaboration, Research Outcomes, Reputation, and Community Engagement.

Each of these pillars has been woven into the DNA of CUA. This means your education will not be confined to textbooks but will be connected to industry projects, research collaborations, and community service. You are in a country positioning itself as a hub for technology, creativity, modernized education, and innovation, and you, as CUA students, will be prepared to be leaders and contributors in this transformation.

What does this mean for you? It means your education at CUA is directly tied to your employability, your ability to innovate, and your readiness to contribute to society. As the UAE transitions, you study at the heart of this transformation.

Education at CUA is not limited to lectures and exams. Your student life will be expansive and vibrant. You will find countless opportunities to discover passions, strengthen talents, and form lifelong networks. At CUA, we believe education is holistic. Your student journey includes sports, clubs, cultural events, and extracurricular activities that help you discover new talents and make lifelong friendships. I encourage you to join, to participate, and to lead.

When you join CUA, you connect with more than 4,400 alumni who contribute to industries across the UAE and abroad. These alumni are your future mentors, collaborators, and perhaps even employers. Your professors, too, will remain part of your lifelong network. Add to this the professional connections you will build through internships, research collaborations, and community projects—and you begin to see the powerful ecosystem you are stepping into.

Networking is one of the most powerful forces for career growth, and your network starts here: with your professors, your peers, your internship supervisors, your research collaborators, and with alumni who once sat where you are today.

As you begin this academic year, I encourage you to embrace the journey with curiosity, resilience, and determination. Ask questions, seek opportunities, challenge yourself, and never forget the values that underpin true success.

See your time at CUA as a step toward a job, a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Know that your classes will challenge you, your professors will mentor you, and your peers will inspire you.

Remember, what you do here will shape your career and the person you become.

Again, on behalf of the CUA community, I welcome you to make 2025–26 a year of achievement, inspiration, and a defining chapter in your personal and professional story.

Thank you.

Watch the Welcome Remarks  on YouTube:

• Opening Remarks from CUA President, Mr. Imran Khan – Welcome to the 2025–26 Academic
• Why City University Ajman? – Insights from CUA President Mr. Imran Khan

• A Connected Future Starts at CUA | A Message from CUA President Mr. Imran Khan

• Welcome to a Year of Purpose and Possibility | A Message from CUA President Mr. Imran Khan