Against the backdrop of expanding cultural and educational cooperation between China and the United Arab Emirates, young Emirati students are turning their growing fascination with Chinese language, culture and innovation into concrete ambitions to build their futures in China, and to serve as bridges for bilateral friendship.
These sincere aspirations took center stage on Saturday at the 2026 regional final of the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition, hosted at Zayed University’s Dubai campus. Twenty-two contestants drawn from primary, secondary and higher education institutions across the UAE gathered to share how engaging with Chinese language and culture has transformed their personal outlooks and life trajectories.
One standout participant was 17-year-old Ali Bilal Masood Ali Aldhuhoori, a soon-to-graduate student from Saif Bin Hamad Boys’ High School in Fujairah. Aldhuhoori previously joined a short-term exchange program in Shanghai, where he immersed himself in traditional Chinese culture and gained first-hand insight into China’s world-leading advances in artificial intelligence. That experience taught him the unique power of combining language proficiency with technological expertise, reshaping his long-term career and education goals.
“For me, Mandarin is far more than just a foreign language — it is a clear path to my future,” Aldhuhoori explained. “I have a firm goal: to pursue further study in China, combine academic learning with hands-on social practice, and achieve my personal Chinese Dream.” During the competition, he showcased his deep appreciation for traditional Chinese culture by reciting several classic ancient Chinese poems, noting that the concise, evocative verses have opened entirely new intellectual and cultural horizons for him. “By learning Mandarin and understanding Chinese poetry, I get to see the whole world through China’s perspective,” he said. Following his competition appearance, he expressed hope that his participation would inspire younger Emiratis to master Mandarin and seize every opportunity to visit China, echoing an ancient Chinese proverb that encourages both extensive reading and broad travel.
Another top performer was Khadija Sultan Alkhoori, a middle school student from Abu Dhabi, who claimed first place in the middle school division. She wowed judges and audiences with a smooth, cohesive tai chi performance delivered in a traditional red training uniform, paired with near-fluent Mandarin that earned her hearty applause. Khadija’s ultimate goal is to travel to China to study traditional Chinese medicine, a dream that has the full support of her entire family.
“I am extremely proud of my daughter’s outstanding achievement here today,” said her father Sultan, an IT engineer who has traveled to both Shanghai and Chengdu. “Learning Mandarin has opened up far broader prospects for her future. China has such a long, profound cultural heritage and incredible modernization achievements that I got to see firsthand during my visits. I hope Khadija will keep advancing her Mandarin skills, dive deeper into Chinese culture, and grow up to be a true friendship envoy for exchanges between the UAE and China.”
The growing enthusiasm for Chinese language learning among young Emiratis did not emerge by accident: it is the result of years of structured bilateral cooperation rooted in shared goodwill. Back in July 2019, in the presence of senior leaders from both nations, the UAE launched the “Hundred Schools Project”, a landmark Chinese language education initiative. Since its launch, the program has introduced Mandarin courses to more than 170 UAE schools, reaching over 71,000 students across the country.
“In recent years, China and the UAE have achieved fruitful outcomes in people-to-people exchanges and educational collaboration,” noted Zeng Jixin, China’s Ambassador to the UAE. “Known as the top global event for international Chinese language education, Chinese Bridge acts not just as a linguistic bridge, but as a bond connecting different civilizations and linking people’s hearts. I hope all the contestants here will become long-term inheritors and guardians of China-UAE friendship.”
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Bridge program, which was created and is organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education, with support from Chinese embassies and Confucius Institutes around the globe. Zayed University’s Confucius Institute has hosted the UAE’s preliminary and final rounds of the competition for nine consecutive years, with more than 2,500 participants aged 4 to 30 taking part over that period.
Michael Allen, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Zayed University, emphasized the lasting value of the competition for bilateral relations. “Language connects people, and cultural exchange strengthens friendship,” Allen said. “Chinese Bridge is not only a stage for students to showcase their Chinese proficiency and cultural talents, but also a critical link that boosts mutual understanding, facilitates people-to-people interaction, and deepens friendship between the United Arab Emirates and China.”