UAE-based alumni of India’s Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) are once again divided, with two separate events planned for this year’s Sir Syed Day celebrations, despite last year’s unified gathering which raised hopes for alumni unity. The events celebrating AMU’s founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, will be held on October 19 and October 26.

This has reopened a long-standing divide in the UAE alumni community. In the past, AMU alumni in the UAE split into two groups, each holding their own Sir Syed Day celebrations. Last year’s joint event gave hope for unity, but this year they are back to separate celebrations.

About 5,000 AMU alumni live in the UAE, and there are twice as many across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This division raises concerns about factionalism during a time that usually brings people together. Worldwide, AMU alumni celebrate Sir Syed Day on October 17 to honor Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817–1898), a 19th-century reformer and educationist. However, in the UAE, this annual commemoration is divided into two events again, leading to discussions about alumni unity.

Mohammad Haroon Akmal, a member of The Proud Aligs AMU Alumni organizing committee for the October 19 event at Hotel Holiday International in Sharjah, dismissed concerns of division, emphasizing a shared goal. “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s legacy transcends borders and time. We are all united in celebrating his contributions, and having multiple celebrations only amplifies his impact. The more, the merrier,” Akmal said, underscoring the mission of honoring the visionary who transformed education for Muslims in India and beyond.

Imad Malik, CEO of Sharaf Exchange and an AMU alumnus highlighted the enduring significance of Sir Syed’s vision. “No one has come close to achieving what Sir Syed did in over 200 years. His university has impacted countless lives, including many of us in the UAE,” said Malik, stressing the need for continued efforts to uplift the community through education.

The October 19 event will feature DS Chauhan, a senior Indian government official, and Rizwan Sajan, founder of the Danube Group, as guests of honor. The program will also include a performance by the AMU Drama Club alumni and a stand-up comedy by Rehman Khan.

Meanwhile, the October 26 event, hosted at Coral Beach Resort in Sharjah by SM Qutub Rehman from the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni, UAE, will welcome Dr. Naima Khatoon, vice chancellor of AMU, as the guest of honor. Rehman supported the idea of multiple events, pointing to the large alumni base in the UAE. “Given the number of Aligs here, two events are practical. Even in Aligarh, they don’t have a centralized celebration. If someone can’t attend one event, they can join the other,” he explained.

However, some long-standing alumni believe that Sir Syed Day should unite everyone under one banner to show the unity and brotherhood that Sir Syed promoted. “Holding two events only deepens divisions and contradicts the values Sir Syed stood for,” said one alumnus, who chose to remain anonymous, noting that he has previously avoided attending events to stay neutral.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, born in 1817, serves as the pioneer of modern education for Indian Muslims. He founded a school in 1875 that grew into the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which now educates around 30,000 students and continues to impact the world, particularly among its many alumni in the UAE