Sandhurst’s Middle East connection

Our Correspondent

On December 11, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, watched his son Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed graduate from Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from where he had graduated in 1979.

Sheikh Mohamed, who met the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the British royal and heir to the throne Prince Charles, tweeted: “I was proud to attend the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where I met with our Emirati cadets. I congratulate all of the cadets from Commissioning Course 201 and I wish them every success in their endeavour to better serve their countries.” Seven officer cadets from the UAE commissioned this year.

For decades, Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been the training ground for foreign royals, particularly those from the Middle East. The links have existed from the time Britain was a major colonial power in the Gulf region.

Sandhurst is one of the world’s most leading military academies, where future leaders get to know each other.

Established in 1812, the Sandhurst academy has a 44-week course divided into three terms. Term one focuses on basic military skills, fitness and decision making; term two on developing leadership skills where cadets select their future corps or regiment; and in term three, cadets go on training exercises in the UK and overseas.

During training, all officer cadets learn to live by the academy’s motto: ‘serve to lead’. The training helps to hone the physical and mental strength of the young cadets.

Apart from would-be officers for the British Army, the academy attracts each year about 1,500 foreign students. Many elite families from the Gulf regions send their sons and daughters to train there. The royal alumni include late Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, late King Hussein of Jordan, his son King Abdullah II, King Hamad of Bahrain, and late Sheikh Saad, Emir of Kuwait.

The notable graduates from the UAE include Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed attended Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, which is now part of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

In 2017, Emirati Ahmed Al Mazrui was recognised as the best international cadet in his class and received the Sword of Honour from Sandhurst.

There is an accommodation block, named the Zayed Building, after the UAE’s founding ruler Sheikh Zayed.

In March 2013, a sports centre called Sandhurst’s Mons Hall was renamed the King Hamad Hall, following a £3m donation from the King of Bahrain.