The Duke of Edinburgh landed in the United Arab Emirates on January 31 for a mission of scale that is both youthful inspiration and environmental revelation.
On the first day of his visit, Prince Edward, known as the world champion of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, met with ambitious young participants from The British School Al Khubairat and Gordonstoun School at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi.
The mangrove reserve, part of a broader UAE initiative to protect coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, is also a new type of classroom for youth learning and management.
As Chair of the Award Foundation, he used the occasion to celebrate how programs like the DofE empower young people with confidence.
Meanwhile, Gordonstoun’s involvement carries special weight: the Scottish school is where the duke’s father, Prince Philip, helped shape the spirit of the award and where the program was born.
After interacting with students and mentors among the mangroves, he visited the Zayed National Museum to celebrate the history of the UAE before joining a dinner hosted by Britain’s Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Edward Hobart, in Dubai.
