Abu Dhabi: General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was joined by Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France, at a special ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation for Paris-Sorbonne University - Abu Dhabi to be located on Reem Island.
As part of Sarkozy's visit to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, a commemorative inscription that was sealed in a capsule to be laid in the foundations of the new Sorbonne University Campus was signed, recognising a shared commitment to education between France and the UAE.
Cultural relations
The event also celebrated a continued allegiance to building strong political and cultural relations between the two countries.
During their visit to Reem Island, where the new campus will be located in October 2009, General Shaikh Mohammad and Sarkozy inspected the site of Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and met with existing faculty members and students who currently operate at an interim campus while construction is being completed.
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is the first Sorbonne campus to be established outside of France. The new campus will contain academic buildings, residences and sports facilities.
The 57,000 square metre development will be built by Mubadala Development Company and will accommodate more than 2,000 students.
