Dubai, UAE – 11 November 2018: Harvard Club of the UAE held its first ever Alumni Awards Gala at the Bulgari Hotel Yacht Club on November 9. The black-tie event celebrated the 15thAnniversary of Harvard Club of the UAE, established in 2003 by Their Excellencies, Dr. Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, former UAE Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs, and Dr. Habib Mohammed Sharif Al Mulla, Executive Chairman of Baker McKenzie Habib al Mulla, a leading international law firm.
Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and President of Zayed University and Sajida Hasan Shroff, President of Harvard Club of the UAE, presented awards to five Harvard graduates nominated by their fellow alumni in recognition of their service and achievement in innovation, arts and culture, youth leadership, social impact, and leadership.
Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi remarked, on the diverse and robust talent Harvard alumni provide and announced the “partnership between Harvard Club of the UAE and Zayed University to enhance knowledge and development”. She also thanked President Sajida H. Shroff for the invitation and expressed her happiness at being invited to this innovative event that celebrated knowledge and giving back to the UAE community. “Harvard Club of the UAE promotes networking among its members and develops cooperative relationships and scientific research by exchanging views on how to improve the educational process in the country. The platform help creates partnerships between local and international academic institutions to inspire the next generation of students and graduates to make innovative contributions to the challenges faced by our society.” said Her Excellency.
Sajida Hasan Shroff, President of the Harvard Club of the UAE, thanked the Harvard alumni community for their service to the University and the UAE and expressed her delight in hosting the Club’s first ever Alumni Awards Gala. “The deep traditions of Harvard are built on the foundations of education optimization – so we are particularly honored that in addition to discussions around knowledge, Harvard alumni have the opportunity to discuss cultural diplomacy with the key cultural changemaker of the country,” she stated. Ms. Shroff added, “Our enlightened leadership (in the UAE) has been notably successful in bringing together both private and public institutions, both nationals and expatriates, to create a vibrant and balanced society that is economically successful and focused on improving the quality of life for all of us. We all, regardless of the country of origin, have much to be grateful for as residents of the UAE. And our Harvard alumni have contributed much over the years. It is for that reason and to celebrate the firm establishment of Harvard Club of the UAE, that we conceived of this Gala and the Alumni Awards.”
His Excellency Mr. Philip Frayne, Consul General of the United States, noted the bonds of friendship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates; and expressed his appreciation for Harvard Club of the UAE’s efforts in engaging the alumni community.
HE Hessa Essa, Minister of Community Development; HE Ms. Marcy Grossman, Consul General of Canada; HE Mr. Vipul, Consul General of India; HE Mr. Assaf Doumit, Consul General of Lebanon; HE Khalid bin Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the University City Sharjah; Professor Reyadh Al Mehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University; and Dr. Lance de Masi, President of American University in Dubai also attended. Other guests included Harvard alumni as well as alumni from MIT, Oxford, Stanford, Cambridge, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and LSE, who also gather regularly at knowledge, service and social events such as the Harvard-Oxbridge Debate, and the Harvard Book Prize award for high school students in the UAE, as well as informal lunch and dinner gatherings.
Photo highlights of the event
About Harvard Club of the UAE
Harvard Club of the UAE (HC UAE) is the official alumni organization for all Harvard University alumni in the UAE. As such, it acts as an umbrella organization for Harvard alumni from all of Harvard’s schools and programs and collaborates with its sister organizations in the UAE, the Harvard Business School Club of the GCC and the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Network of the UAE.
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