HCT Celebrates Record Class of More Than 6,700 Graduates at Etihad Arena

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) has celebrated its biggest graduating class to date, with more than 6,700 graduates from the 2025-2026 academic year, about 43% more than the year before. More than 12,000 people gathered at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi for the ceremony, held under the theme “Strong Roots. Lasting Impact.”

The ceremony took place in the presence of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and founder of HCT, alongside Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of HCT, and Dr Faisal Alayyan, HCT President and CEO.

Class of 2026 in numbers

• 6,700+ graduates, about 43% more than the previous year
• 804 graduates recognised with distinction and honours, around 12% of the class
• 14 graduates achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA
• 4,400+ graduates already in employment
• 88% average annual graduate employment rate over five years

Applied and vocational pathways are growing fast

Graduates came from all three HCT pathways: applied bachelor’s degrees, vocational diplomas and Mahara Career Accelerators. Vocational diploma enrolment has grown from 379 students in 2022-2023 to 6,276 in 2025-2026, while Mahara enrolment more than quadrupled in a year to 1,689.

HCT is also redesigning its four-year applied bachelor’s programmes so that a full year, 25% of the course, is spent in workplace learning.

Strong links with employers

Over the past five academic years, HCT has partnered with more than 3,500 organisations, 87% of them in the private sector, providing more than 19,000 apprenticeships. Of graduates who entered work between 2019 and 2025, 72% joined the private sector.

Dr Faisal Alayyan said: “This record graduating cohort reflects the UAE’s sustained investment in developing national talent. At HCT, our priority is to ensure that education translates into practical skills, professional opportunities and meaningful contributions to the economy.”

About HCT

Founded in 1988 with 182 students, HCT now serves more than 25,000 students across the UAE and has graduated more than 95,000 people. It offers 54 majors across applied media, business, computer information science, education, engineering technology, and science and health sciences, with 85% of its programmes internationally accredited.