His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), visited Arabian Gulf University in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he was received by His Excellency the University President, Dr. Saad bin Saud Al-Fahaid, along with a number of university leaders and members of the academic and administrative staff.
During the visit, His Royal Highness met with a select group of university students from various Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, learned about their academic experiences and future aspirations, and discussed with them the role of education, knowledge, and scientific research in serving their communities, as well as the importance of applying the skills and expertise they acquire to contribute to the development of their countries.
His Royal Highness emphasized during the meeting the importance of the role played by Gulf youth in building the region’s future, noting that investing in their academic and professional capabilities and equipping them with the tools of knowledge and innovation is one of the most important pillars of sustainable development.
In a statement on this occasion, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal expressed his pride in the academic, scientific, and developmental achievements of Arabian Gulf University, emphasizing that they represent one of the most notable outcomes of the forward-looking vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the founding leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, who recognized from the very beginning that the development of Gulf citizens and their scientific and intellectual training form the solid foundation for building nations, strengthening their integration, and ensuring the sustainability of their progress.
His Royal Highness said: “Their Majesties and Highnesses, the founding leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, believed that investing in people is the investment with the deepest impact and the most long-lasting returns, and that building the future of the GCC states begins in classrooms and centers of research and knowledge. The establishment of the Arabian Gulf University was a practical embodiment of this vision and a joint Gulf initiative that translates shared aspirations into opportunities for education, training, and capacity building.”
His Royal Highness added: “Today, decades after the university’s founding, we are witnessing the results of that vision in the thousands of male and female graduates—including doctors, educators, and specialists in science, technology, management, and other fields—who are now contributing their skills and expertise to the development of health, educational, research, and development institutions across the GCC countries. These talented individuals represent a strategic asset for our societies and serve as a testament to the fact that long-term investment in education yields developmental impacts that extend beyond individuals and institutions to successive generations.”
His Royal Highness noted that the university’s developmental value is also reflected in the fact that it serves as an institutional model for Gulf integration, bringing together the sons and daughters of the GCC countries in a shared academic environment, strengthening the intellectual, professional, and human bonds among them, and helping to shape generations that take responsibility for developing their societies in a spirit of cooperation and joint action.
He added: “The rapid transformations the world is witnessing—particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, medical sciences, and scientific research—open up broader horizons for the Arabian Gulf University to strengthen its pioneering role, develop its academic and research programs, prepare Gulf competencies capable of leading innovation and competing globally, and contribute to the realization of the ambitious development visions of the GCC countries.”
His Royal Highness affirmed that the experience of Arabian Gulf University provides an important model for regional development cooperation, stressing the importance of strengthening partnerships between academic institutions, development organizations, and the public and private sectors, thereby expanding opportunities for quality education and scientific research and maximizing the economic and social impact of investment in knowledge and human capital.
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Saad bin Saud Al-Fahaid, President of Arabian Gulf University, welcomed the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud, expressing his thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness and emphasizing that the visit reflects his interest in education, growth, and human development, and represents moral support for the university’s mission and its role in serving the people of the GCC.
His Excellency delivered a presentation in which he reviewed the university’s history, mission, strategic objectives, and academic and research programs, as well as its contributions to preparing specialized professionals and supporting sustainable development, in addition to the advanced educational and training environment it provides, which meets the needs of Gulf societies and the requirements of future development.
Dr. Al-Fahaid highlighted the importance of strengthening communication and cooperation between Arabian Gulf University and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and of exploring opportunities for collaboration in the fields of education, research, and development, thereby contributing to human capacity building, the exchange of expertise, and maximizing the developmental impact of joint initiatives.
The visit included a tour of several of the university’s academic and research facilities, during which His Royal Highness and the accompanying delegation toured the Medical Skills and Simulation Center, which features teaching rooms and advanced training equipment that simulate real-world clinical scenarios, allowing students and healthcare practitioners to develop their practical and clinical skills in a safe learning environment.
The tour also included the Museum of Educational Resources for Anatomy and Pathology, the Animal Research Center, the Library and Learning Resource Center, where His Royal Highness was briefed on the role these facilities play in supporting the educational and training process and in promoting scientific research and practical applications in medical and scientific specialties.
His Royal Highness also reviewed the programs and initiatives offered by the university in the fields of medical sciences, as well as the educational, technical, and administrative studies, as well as its role in preparing specialized professionals and enhancing the contributions of higher education to economic and social development in the GCC.
The visit concluded with a lunch banquet hosted by the university in honor of His Royal Highness and his accompanying delegation, attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Juma, the Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Excellency Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The delegation accompanying His Royal Highness included Hammam bin Nasser bin Juraid, Executive Director of AGFUND; Hadi Al-Faqih, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Chairman of the Board of Directors; Osama bin Saad Al-Mubarak, Director of His Royal Highness’s Office; and Mohamed Sayed Suleiman, Director of the Private Office.
At the conclusion of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud expressed his appreciation to His Excellency the University President, the university’s leadership, and its academic and administrative staff, commending the progress achieved in its educational and research environment. He added that he is looking forward that the university continues its role, describing it as a Gulf edifice of learning that embodies the aspirations of GCC leaders for a future based on knowledge, innovation, and investment in human capital.