Over $500,000 Raised at Abu Dhabi and Dubai Events
Alumni gala dinners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have raised $550,000 to support student scholarships at LAU.
Over 1,000 alumni attended the events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, reflecting the sizable LAU alumni presence in the UAE.
The Abu Dhabi alumni chapter celebrated its 19th annual gala at the Rotana Beach Hotel with over 650 alumni and friends of the university—the largest gathering the chapter has ever seen. During the dinner, themed “From LAU to the World,” alumni honored four prominent supporters of LAU: Mr. Amal Hourani, Mr. Kameel Sarieddine, Mr. Salim Zyr, and Mr. Salim Sfeir.
In a surprise ceremony, the chapter also honored LAU President Dr. Joseph G Jabbra for his strong leadership of the university. Chapter President Naim Stephan asked committee members to join him on stage before inviting Dr. Jabbra onstage for the unexpected award.
Entertainment was provided by Lebanese violinist Hanin and the singer Wael Jassar, both of whom were flown in from Lebanon especially for the event
A day later, some 550 alumni attended the Dubai alumni chapter’s annual gala dinner at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel. The chapter honored H.E. Leila Solh Hamadeh, former Lebanese Minister of Industry and Vice President of Alwaleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation, for her dedication to Lebanese civil society and LAU. Lebanese singers Maya Diab and Joseph Attieh were flown in from Beirut to provide the evening’s entertainment.
“I attended both events with pleasure and enjoyed witnessing the great work our alumni put on,” said Abdallah Al Khal, LAU’s executive director of Alumni Relations. “It takes professional event planners to put together such grand and extremely well organized gala dinners but our alumni have proven their dedication to LAU was inspiration enough. It has been a privilege to work with each and every one of them.”
The gala dinners were sponsored by the Bank of Beirut.