NYU Abu Dhabi students Alya Alhabtari (UAE) and Firas Darwish (Jordan) have been awarded the prestigious 2024 UAE Rhodes Scholarship, bringing the University's total of Rhodes Scholars to 24. Selected from a competitive pool of candidates, the two were chosen for their academic distinction, character, leadership, and commitment to service. 

This year’s process saw 11 finalists from leading universities across the country, with Alhabtari and Darwish selected as the successful candidates after rigorous interviews with the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. They will join a global cohort of scholars and changemakers to spend an academic year at the University of Oxford starting in October 2025.

Alhabtari plans to pursue an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy and a Master’s in Public Policy. Her ambition is to advance the UAE’s foreign aid strategies through these studies. Darwish intends to study for an MSc in Advanced Computer Science and a Master’s in Public Policy, focusing on shaping global AI governance and addressing issues like data privacy and bias in artificial intelligence.

The success of Alhabtari and Darwish underscores NYU Abu Dhabi’s commitment to academic excellence and fostering impactful leadership. Their journey at Oxford will continue to build on their aspirations to make meaningful contributions on a global scale.