His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, attended the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) graduation ceremony in Abu Dhabi celebrating the largest cohort in the institution’s history, according to organisers. The event, held at Etihad Arena on 4 November 2026, honoured graduates from the 2025 to 2026 academic year, with HCT saying the class totalled more than 6,700 graduates.
The ceremony took place under the theme “Strong Roots. Lasting Impact.” and brought together graduates from HCT campuses across the UAE. HCT said the graduation was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of HCT; His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and His Excellency Dr. Faisal Alayyan, President and CEO of HCT. Other attendees included senior government and institutional leaders, representatives of partner organisations, faculty and administrative staff, alumni, and families of the graduates.
Al Falasi links graduation to investment in human capital
In remarks during the ceremony, HCT said Dr. Al Falasi congratulated the Class of 2026 and its families, describing the graduation as a milestone reflecting the UAE’s focus on investing in human capital and developing Emirati talent aligned with national priorities. HCT attributed to him the view that preparing competitive, sustainable economies requires continued investment in knowledge and skills, and that HCT has evolved over nearly four decades alongside the UAE while supporting sectors through graduates trained for changing economic and technological conditions.
HCT says cohort grew 43% year on year
HCT said the Class of 2026 recorded 43% growth in graduate numbers compared with the previous year. The institution stated that 804 graduates were recognised in distinction and honour categories, and that more than 12% of graduates achieved CGPAs of 3.5 or higher, while 14 students completed their studies with 4.0 CGPAs.
Organisers also broke down the cohort by campus, citing 1,640 graduates from Abu Dhabi, 1,145 from Sharjah, 930 from Al Ain, 896 from Dubai, 887 from Ras Al Khaimah, 729 from Fujairah, 179 from Al Dhafra, and combined figures for Khalifa bin Zayed Air College and Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Naval College.
HCT said its geographic reach will expand further with the opening of a new Masfout campus in the Central Region during the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
HCT leaders cite applied pathways and labour-market outcomes
HCT said Dr. Faisal Alayyan described graduating the institution’s largest cohort as a defining milestone, pointing to growth in graduate numbers and progress in programme development and outcomes. HCT attributed to him an emphasis on applied education pathways combining study with practical training, and said he credited faculty and administrative teams as well as partners that provide training opportunities.
According to HCT, employment data tied to its educational model shows an average annual employment rate of 88% over the past five academic years, with individual years ranging from 84% to 93%. HCT said its data also indicates that for the 2024 to 2025 graduate cohort, employment reached 86%, and that more than 4,400 graduates from the Class of 2026 entered the labour market within less than 12 months.
Awards for top achievers with car recognition
The ceremony also included awards for 18 distinguished graduates, including 14 with perfect cumulative GPAs of 4.0, three with 3.99, and one graduate from the people of determination with a cumulative GPA of 3.58. HCT said each was recognised with a car. It stated that AW Rostamani Group was the principal partner for five of the awards, while other strategic and excellence partners included Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates Transport, Lockton, and Arabian Company, with additional support from other colleges partners.
HCT said it has graduated over 95,000 graduates since its founding in 1988 and that current student enrolment stands at over 25,000 across 54 specialisations, describing a mix of applied bachelor’s programmes, vocational diplomas, and its Mahara Career Accelerators pathway.
