🌟 A Milestone in Community-Driven Education

In a groundbreaking ceremony held on February 10, 2026, in the Al Mafraq area of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) and the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an officially inaugurated the AED 9.5 million community-funded Ma'an Scholarship Building. This event marks a pivotal moment in the UAE's higher education landscape, showcasing an innovative approach to sustainable scholarship funding. Attended by key figures including H.E. Faisal Al Hmoudi, Executive Director of the Social Investment Fund at Ma'an, Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of ADU, and Salem Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of Community Relations at the university, the inauguration highlighted the power of collective community efforts to empower future generations through accessible education.

The initiative embodies the UAE's vision for inclusive growth, transforming one-time donations into perpetual revenue streams that support student scholarships indefinitely. By leasing commercial spaces within the building, ADU aims to create a self-sustaining model that aligns with national priorities for education and social development.

The Building's Design and Commercial Features

Spanning an impressive 4,300 square meters, the Ma'an Scholarship Building is strategically designed as a multifunctional commercial hub. It houses 16 fully equipped offices ideal for small businesses and startups, four spacious warehouses for logistics and storage needs, six retail shops catering to everyday consumer demands, and a large supermarket to serve the local Al Mafraq community. This diverse mix ensures high occupancy rates and steady rental income, projected to fuel long-term educational support.

The development cost, entirely sourced from community contributions totaling AED 9.5 million (approximately USD 2.58 million), underscores the project's grassroots origins. Located in Al Mafraq, a vibrant area with growing economic activity, the building not only generates revenue but also stimulates local employment and business opportunities, creating a ripple effect of economic and social benefits.

• 16 offices for professional services and administrative functions
• 4 warehouses supporting supply chain operations
• 6 retail shops for diverse merchandise
• 1 supermarket anchoring daily essentials

Understanding the Ma'an Partnership and 'From the Community to the Community' Model

The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, established under the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of giving. Its flagship 'From the Community to the Community' framework encourages contributions from individuals, corporations, and organizations to fund impactful projects that deliver measurable social returns. This model shifts from traditional philanthropy—often limited to short-term aid—to asset-based investments that produce ongoing income.

ADU's collaboration with Ma'an exemplifies this approach. Initiated earlier in 2025 with a pioneering funding announcement, the partnership has now materialized into a tangible asset. By channeling rental proceeds directly into scholarships, the model ensures transparency and sustainability, with all revenues earmarked for deserving students pursuing higher education at ADU.

This partnership reflects broader UAE strategies, where government entities, academia, and the private sector unite to address educational equity. Similar initiatives have supported sectors like healthcare and youth development, proving the model's versatility.

Transformative Impact on Student Scholarships

Once fully operational, the Ma'an Scholarship Building is poised to fund up to 25 full scholarships or over 40 partial scholarships each year. Full scholarships could cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for high-achieving yet financially challenged students, while partial ones offer significant tuition waivers—up to 50% as per ADU's standard offerings.

ADU already provides a range of scholarships, including merit-based University Scholarships (up to 50% tuition waiver for UAE residents and GCC nationals), athletic awards, and specialized programs like the H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarship. The new revenue stream amplifies these efforts, targeting low-income students, women in STEM, and those from underrepresented regions, thereby democratizing access to quality higher education.

In practical terms, this means more students can enroll in ADU's 65+ accredited programs across biomedical sciences, engineering, business, law, and more, without the burden of debt. For context, ADU serves over 10,000 multinational students from 100+ nationalities, and this initiative will further diversify its cohort.

Abu Dhabi University: A Leader in UAE Higher Education

Founded in 2003, Abu Dhabi University has grown into one of the UAE's top private institutions, with campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai. Ranked in the global top 250 by Times Higher Education (THE) 2026—#1 in UAE for teaching excellence—and #391 in QS World University Rankings 2026, ADU emphasizes research, innovation, and international accreditations.

With a diverse student body exceeding 10,000, ADU fosters a multicultural environment aligned with the UAE's knowledge economy ambitions. Its commitment to sustainability is evident in events like the 3rd International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures (ICASf 2025), tying directly into UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as quality education (SDG 4) and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).

Under Chancellor Professor Ghassan Aouad's leadership, ADU prioritizes community engagement, as seen in partnerships beyond Ma'an, including cancer awareness drives and innovation competitions for high schoolers.

Broader Context in UAE Higher Education Landscape

The UAE boasts one of the world's most dynamic higher education sectors, with over 70 universities serving around 500,000 students. Government investments exceed billions annually, supporting free education for Emiratis and generous scholarships for internationals. Initiatives like the UAE Centennial 2071 plan aim for a top-10 global knowledge hub status by emphasizing equity and innovation.

Challenges persist, including rising demand from expatriate populations and skill gaps in emerging fields like AI and renewables. Community-funded models like Ma'an address these by supplementing public funding, ensuring no talented student is left behind due to finances.

Statistics highlight the need: UAE higher education enrollment has surged 300% in two decades, yet scholarships cover only a fraction. ADU's project sets a precedent, potentially replicable across NYU Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, and others.

Voices from Stakeholders: Quotes and Perspectives

Professor Ghassan Aouad emphasized, “This inauguration marks a significant milestone in transforming community contributions... into lasting educational opportunities. By embedding sustainability at the core of social investment, the initiative reflects ADU’s commitment to inclusive growth.”

H.E. Abdullah Al Ameri, Director General of Ma'an, noted, “Supporting the education pillar... has profound impact not only on the individual but on the community as a whole by developing more resilient and skilled future workforce.”

Community leaders and students echo this enthusiasm on social media, with X (formerly Twitter) posts from @ADMediaOffice and @abudhabiuni garnering thousands of views, praising the model's ingenuity.

Challenges, Solutions, and Future Outlook

While pioneering, sustainable funding models face hurdles like market fluctuations affecting rentals. ADU mitigates this through diversified tenants and Ma'an's oversight, ensuring stable yields.

• Step 1: Community contributions fund asset acquisition/development.
• Step 2: Professional management secures high-value leases.
• Step 3: Revenues transparently allocated to scholarships.
• Step 4: Annual impact reports build donor confidence for scaling.

Looking ahead, ADU plans expansions, potentially more buildings or digital fundraising. This aligns with UAE's Vision 2031 for education, forecasting doubled scholarship capacity nationwide.

Career Pathways and Opportunities at ADU

Graduates from ADU scholarships enter a robust job market, with UAE higher ed alumni earning premiums in sectors like tech, finance, and energy. Programs emphasize employability, with 90% placement rates.

For aspiring academics or professionals, ADU offers roles in teaching, research, and administration. Explore openings via higher education jobs or university jobs platforms.

Photo by Massimo Basso on Unsplash

Conclusion: Pioneering Inclusive Higher Education

The Ma'an Scholarship Building exemplifies how innovation and community spirit can revolutionize access to higher education in the UAE. By generating enduring support for students, ADU and Ma'an are investing in a brighter, more equitable future. Aspiring students, check scholarships, job seekers visit higher-ed-jobs, and professors rate experiences at rate-my-professor. Stay tuned for more UAE higher ed updates.