Dubai, Sept 11: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a productive meeting with Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), here on Thursday to review and deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education.

Delightful meeting with HE Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE.

We reviewed our bilateral cooperation in higher education and agreed to further deepen our knowledge bridges as well as make knowledge, innovation… pic.twitter.com/dQgv98U1sn

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 11, 2025

In a post on X, Pradhan described the meeting as “delightful,” emphasizing the mutual commitment to building robust knowledge bridges between the two nations. The leaders discussed enhancing collaboration in joint research across critical and emerging areas, capacity building, and promoting two-way cultural and academic exchanges.

The Minister expressed gratitude to Dr. Al Awar for his appreciation of Indian educational institutions in Dubai, which have played a vital role in advancing shared priorities and fostering global connectivity. He also acknowledged the UAE’s support for establishing more top-tier Indian institutions in the region.

The dialogue reaffirmed the strategic importance of education, innovation, and research as pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE. Both nations aim to leverage their strengths—India as a global talent hub and the UAE as a leading economic center—to create impactful educational ecosystems that benefit students, researchers, and institutions alike.

The meeting also touched upon the importance of people-to-people contact, with both leaders agreeing that the strong historical and cultural ties between India and the UAE should be further cemented through educational collaboration.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates First Overseas Atal Incubation Centre at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Campus

Yesterday, Pradhan inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus.At the inaugural ceremony, He also launched two key academic programs: a Ph.D. program in Energy and Sustainability and a B.Tech program in Chemical Engineering.

Minister Pradhan’s two-day visit to UAE aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in education, foster academic excellence and innovation, and explore new avenues of partnership.