British Council UAE announces winners for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2025

The British Council is proud to announce the fifth year of its study of the United Kingdom Student Awards, collecting the outstanding achievements or former students of the United Kingdom worldwide. Held at the British council office in Dubai, these awards honor leaders who have taken advantage of their education in the United Kingdom to make significant contributions to their communities, industries and countries

This year’s categories include businesses and innovation, culture and creativity, science and sustainability, and social action..

Collecting the brilliant achievements of the students of the United Kingdom and their contributions, we would like to congratulate and highlight the winners of the 2024-2025 awards

The Science and Sustainability Award: Dr. Abdulrahim Sajini, former student at the University of Cambridge, is a professor in the research of avant -garde stem cells at the University of Khalifa in the EAU. He established the first stem cell laboratory in the country and developed EAU001, the first line of pluripotent stem cells derived from Emirati. With more than 9.5 million AED in research funds, he is also a committed educator who shapes the next generation of scientists. His time in Cambridge, home from two Nobel Prizes in voice cell research, is great, critical tools and the vision of pursuing the first National Bank of Voice Cells of the EAU.

The Business and Innovation Award: Mayank Varyani, former student of King’s College London, is Angelspark’s general manager, the most active angel investor in Mena. In almost approximately a year, it has led investments in 11 new companies in the initial stage. His education in the United Kingdom equipped it with the strategic and intercultural thinking necessary to close the region’s financing gap and support a prosperous business ecosystem.

The Culture and Creativity Award: Dr. Ally Zlatar, graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, is an artist, academic and founder of the Scholarship Fund and Swing Artists initiative. His defense uses creative expression to address mental health, migration and inequality. Recognized worldwide with awards that include the Innovation Awards of the Commonwealth and the Princess Diana Legacy Award, continues to empower the marginalized communities through the art that transcends the borders.

The Social Action Award: Maryam Farooqi, student or City St George’s, University of London, Maryam leads the Mena associations in the International Rescue Committee. It develops high -impact philanthropic alliances throughout the Gulf that support humanitarian efforts and social equity. His legal education laid the basis for a world -centered career committed to justice and human development.

We also expand our sincere congratulations to all our finalists of 2025, whose exceptional work almost demands the main prize and exemplifies the spirit of these awards: Raneen Qarada and Somya Mehta in culture and creativity; Gowri Shankar Sivabala and Mina Nagy in Social Action; Akilan Raju and Dan Ehrald Samarita in science and sustainability; and Amritha Subhayan Krishnan and Hamna Zain in business and innovation. Their dedication, creativity and impact remind us that each finalist embodies the vision and ambition that make the students of the study reward such a powerful celebration of talent and leadership.

Recognizing the excellent cohort of finalists and former students of this year, Martin Daltry, director of Eau countries at the British Council, commented: “The student’s awards are a celebration of the powerful long -term impact of the United Kingdom’s education. Each of our finalists and winners which is possible when education enables people to change creative action. The lasting connection between the United Kingdom and the EAU is based on shared values, innovation and collaboration.”

Offering their congratulations and reinforcing the strength of the United Kingdom: the Eau Education Association, Edward Hobart, HM Ambassador to the EAU, declared: “It is a real pleasure to honor the winners and finalists of the Awards for Studies of 2025. A great congratulations to all the recognized today!

Celebrate the winners of the alumni

Duration The event, Martin Daltry, director of countries in countries, EAU, acknowledged the notable winners of the study of 2023 and 2024 of the United Kingdom. The British Council is more than pleased to recognize and celebrate the achievements of these distinguished students:

Winners of the 2024 alumni award

• Business and Innovation Award: Abbie Hughes (University of Southampton)
• Culture and Creativity Award: Ellen Landes (University of Leeds Beckett)
• Science and Sustainability Award: Amit Swamy (Hull University)
• Social Action Award: FADI ZAGHMOUT (Sussex University)

Winners of the 2023 alumni award

• Business and Innovation Award: Linus Benjamin Bauer (University of the City of London)
• Culture and Creativity Award: Amanda Hamilton Rushfort (University of Southampton and University of Bournemouth)
• Science and Sustainability Award: Muhammad Fareed (University of Birmingham and Queen Mary, University of London)
• Social Action Award: Mariam Elslawy (University of Oxford and University of Leeds)

Communication, collaboration and knowledge exchange

The students’ study ceremony of the United Kingdom students in the EAU was honored by the presence of estimated guests, including Edward Hobart, HM ambassador to the EAU and Alison Hall, general attachment of the General Consul of the United Kingdom in Dubai, Whoed Usnib. These awards reflect the global impact of an education in the United Kingdom and their power to equip people with the skills and perspectives necessary to lead the change in their fields and communities. Applications for the next edition of the awards are opened in September and are open to all the former United Kingdom students who reside outside the United Kingdom, including graduates of transnational education programs in the United Kingdom. For more details, visit the Oure website: https://www.britishcouncil.ae/study-uk/alumni- Awards

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SER STUDENT AWARD CATEGORIES

• Science and Sustainability Award – Recognize students who have distinguished themselves through their career and achievements in the world of science and sustainability, and who can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements in their professional and beyond.

Work areas could include, among others: climatic action, clean energy, medicine, sustainable cities and communities, engineering, industry and construction.

• Culture and Creativity Award – Recording the former students who have carved a career for Tomelves in Arts and Culture. We are looking for people who can demonstrate their artistic ingenuity, influence and creativity.

The work areas could include, among others: arts, design, humanities, traditional media, music, video, television, sports content and online and creation of audivisual media (CE blogs, vlogging, including YouTube and social networks).

• Social Action Prize – Recording students who have made an exceptional contribution and commitment to positive creative social change and improve the lives of others.

Work areas could include, among others: education, peace and justice, and reducing inequality, poverty and hunger and broader humanitarian work or work or work for social good.

• Business and Innovation Award – Collecting students who are active in starting and contributing to new ideas, solutions or innovative or creative commercial opportunities, which have the growth potential.

Work areas could include, among others: entrepreneurship, business, technology and finance.

About Study UK

Study UK is a global campaign that promotes the United Kingdom as the first option study for international students and their influences. It is the only national campaign of the United Kingdom that shows the excellent offer of higher education in the United Kingdom and the opportunities that change the lives it provides. Study UK is directed and delivered by the British Council in association with the campaign of Great Britain and Ireland of the Golden Government of the United Kingdom.

For more information, visit https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/. You can also keep in touch with Study UK through https://x.com/studyukbritish and https://study-uk.britishcounununcil.org/blog.

About the British Council

The British Council is the International Organization of Cultural Relations and Educational Opportunities of the United Kingdom. We support peace and prosperity by creating connections, understanding and trust between people in the United Kingdom and countries around the world. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and English language. We work with people in more than 200 countries and territories and we are in the field in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.