The Duke of Edinburgh landed in the United Arab Emirates on January 31 for a whirlwind mission that is both an inspiration to young people and an environmental eye-opener.
On the first day of his visit, Prince Edward, known as the global champion of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, met 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, also provides a new type of classroom for youth learning and stewardship.
As Chairman of the Award Foundation, he took the opportunity to celebrate how programs such as the DofE give confidence to young people.
Meanwhile, Gordonstoun’s involvement carries particular weight: it was at the Scottish school that the Duke’s father, Prince Philip, helped shape the ethos of the prize and where the program was born.
After meeting students and mentors among the mangroves, he then visited the Zayed National Museum to celebrate the history of the UAE before joining a dinner hosted by the British Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Edward Hobart, in Dubai.
