Dubai: The Board of Trustees of Emirates Scholar Centre for Research and Studies convened its 6th Annual Ceremony, coinciding with the official inauguration of its new headquarters located within the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai.

This milestone reflects the Centre’s institutional expansion and its growing academic and research presence. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the Centre, and attended by Dr. Youssef Al Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai, along with senior university leadership and members of the Center’s Board of Trustees.

The Ceremony commenced with a review of the Centre’s achievements over the past year, which included the organisation of 10 major international scientific conferences and the generation of over 3.4 million media impressions, reinforcing the Center’s global presence and expanding its academic impact.

The Board also discussed key performance indicators for the 2025/2026 period, reflecting notable growth. A total of 178 new research papers were published, marking an 18% increase, alongside achieving 265,000 views and academic citations, reflecting a 32% growth rate. Additionally, 183,000 new researchers joined the Centre during this period, further strengthening its position as a leading research institution at both regional and international levels.

In this context, the report highlighted that the Centre publishes 15 peer-reviewed scientific journals covering diverse disciplines, indexed across more than 13,400 academic libraries worldwide, reinforcing its standing among prominent global academic publishers.

The Centre has also made significant progress in training and partnerships, delivering 32 training programmes and issuing 1,120 certificates, in addition to signing 41 MoUs, reflecting a 71% growth rate in collaborative efforts to support scientific research and international cooperation.

Furthermore, 3 of the Centre’s journals are currently under review for inclusion in Scopus in 2026, with a strategic plan to complete the indexing of the remaining journals by 2027.

The Centre continues to strengthen its position among leading global academic publishers, guided by the concept of the “Internet of Things,” as part of its efforts to expand the global reach of knowledge and connect it across academic communities, aligned with the UAE’s vision to establish itself as a global hub for culture, science, and intellectual dialogue.

Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi emphasised that the meeting reflects a strong spirit of institutional collaboration, stating: “Under the theme ‘Proud of the UAE,’ what has been achieved is the result of sustained collective effort and a firm belief in the role of scientific research in supporting development. We look forward to continuing this journey with confidence in the next phase.''

For his part, Dr. Youssef Al Assaf stated: “Hosting the Emirates Scholar Centre at our university reflects our strong commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and scientific research. We believe that academic and industry partnerships are key drivers in transforming pioneering ideas into practical solutions that contribute to building a sustainable future and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for knowledge and technological advancement.''

Dr. Firas Habbal, President of the Centre and Vice Chancellor, commented: “This meeting represents an important moment to reflect on the achievements realized through dedicated work and fruitful collaboration across all teams.''

The ceremony concluded with an emphasis on the importance of the upcoming phase, which will witness an expansion in research programs and initiatives, alongside strengthening academic partnerships. This will further solidify the role of the Centre as a leading scientific platform contributing to knowledge production and its application in serving society.