05 MAY 2026 (ABU DHABI, UAE)

The British Council UAE is delighted to announce the national winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2026. The national ceremony took place recently, hosted by the British Ambassador Edward Hobart CMG. UAE alumni of UK universities were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs, innovative creators and community leaders, and for their contribution to strengthening ties between the UK and the UAE. The ceremony was organised by the British Embassy and the British Council in UAE and attended by key stakeholders from across government, industry, HE Institutions and the UK alumni community.  

The Study UK Alumni Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide. These awards honour leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries. Now in its 12th year, the Alumni Awards are a truly global award: more than 1,800 applications were received from alumni in over 120 countries, representing more than 140 UK universities.

The independent judging panel selected recipients for the four award categories: Business and Innovation Award, Culture, Creativity and Sport Award, Science and Sustainability Award and Social Action Award. 

Edward Hobart CMG, British Ambassador to the UAE said: ‘The relationship between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates is deep, dynamic, and forward-looking. At its heart are people and UK alumni in the UAE are among the strongest ambassadors of this partnership. Through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to positive change, they embody the enduring impact of a UK education. We are celebrating alumni whose achievements reflect excellence not only in their professional fields, but also in their contribution to society. Their stories demonstrate how education can bridge cultures, spark innovation, and strengthen international cooperation.’

Martin Daltry, Country Director to UAE said: ‘The British Council is proud to deliver the Study UK Alumni Awards in the UAE, celebrating individuals who have built on their UK education to make a real impact here in the UAE and beyond. The calibre of applicants has been very high and their stories truly inspiring. These 12 outstanding finalists will now go on to represent the UAE at the next stage of the Study UK Alumni Awards in this global competition.

Study UK Alumni Awards 2025–2026 Winners

Recognising the brilliant achievements of UK Alumni and their contributions, we are delighted to congratulate the winners of the 2025–2026 awards:

Business and Innovation Award was presented to Dr. Mohamed Wehbi – PhD CEng FPWI alumnus of University of Birmingham. Dr. Wehbi leads technical strategy and operations for Geobear in the UAE, delivering advanced soil stabilisation and geopolymer injection solutions for critical infrastructure across the GCC. His contributions have been recognised with multiple industry awards, including the ICE Carbon Champions honour from the Institution of Civil Engineers. 

Culture, Creativity and Sport Award was presented to Rafif Al Amassi – Culture Heritage Actor, Architect, Community Engagement Officer alumna of University of Nottingham. An architect and cultural heritage professional, Rafif currently works with Premiere Urgence Internationale on the INTIQAL 2030 programme. Her work focuses on safeguarding cultural heritage, strengthening community engagement and supporting youth-led initiatives in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Science and Sustainability Award was presented to Alyazia Ahli – AI Solutions Engineer & Sustainability Advocate alumna of University of Exeter. Alyazia pioneered a sustainable digital transformation platform that reduced cloud computational demand while improving services for over 12 million subscribers, earning her the Youth Innovation Award. She also leads solar energy training programmes empowering 1,000+ youth in Ghana and contributes to sustainable health solutions serving 10,000 patients annually in the Comoros. 

Social Action Award was presented to Samiya Naseer Rufai – Public Policy Expert, Abu Dhabi Government alumna of London School of Economics and Political Science. Samiya has led transformative projects across Abu Dhabi’s government, from publishing the Emirate’s first Social Statistics Handbook to driving regulatory reform affecting healthcare for over 2.5 million residents. She represented the UAE Government at the OECD Regulatory Policy Committee in Paris and established a first-of-its-kind Policy Internship Programme with NYU Abu Dhabi, later scaled across all universities in the Emirate. 

We also congratulate all Study UK Alumni Awards national finalists in the UAE, who will go forward to the next stage in the global competition:

Business and Innovation 

  • His Excellency Abdulaziz Al Mulla – Director General Federal Tax Authority alumnus of University of Strathclyde. 
  • Tan Ting Tang – Founder & CEO of Am I Tech Enough alumna of University of Oxford. 

Culture, Creativity and Sport

  • Dr. Mona Al Ali – Assistant Professor Rabdan Academy and Chair ICOM UAE alumna of University of Leicester. 
  • Sarah Alagroobi – Founder and Creative Director, Olivine Studio alumna of Royal College of Art. 

Science and Sustainability 

  • Dr. Hasan Ali – Plastic Surgeon & Medical Director, Hasan Surgery alumnus of Queen Mary University of London. 
  • Dr. Mohamed Hussein Elnabawi Mahgoub – Associate Professor & Architectural Engineer, United Arab Emirates University alumnus of Newcastle University. 

Social Action 

  • Dr. Abdulla Bin Ahmad Alshaikh – Board Member, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation | Head of Endurance Committee alumnus of Glasgow Caledonian University. 
  • Dr. Saeed Mubarak Kharbash Almarri – CEO of the Policies, Research, and Programmes KHDA Dubai alumnus of University of Warwick. 

Further details of our finalists and winners can be found on the British Council UAE website.

National level awards are taking place in 18 countries including the UAE. National winners and finalists have been entered into global Study UK Alumni Awards. Finalists of the global awards will be announced in 2026 and celebrated through a digital campaign highlighting their remarkable stories and successes. The four global winners (one per category) will be invited to the UK to support the ongoing development of their careers, reconnect with their universities and meet with Study UK stakeholders. This prestigious visit offers the opportunity for winners to enhance their international profiles, deepen their ties with the UK and foster meaningful connections with the academic community. 

Check out the details of previous Alumni Awards finalists and winners on our website.

Follow the Alumni Awards on Study UK’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.


For more information please contact:
Sachi Kumar – Sachi.kumar@britishcouncil.org

Asmaa Ibrahim – asmaa.ibrahim@ae.britishcouncil.org

ENDS