Address at the Abu Dhabi Alumni Chapter Gala Dinner
This speech was delivered by Dr. Chaouki T. Abdallah on April 26, 2025.
Your Excellency Mr. Fouad Dandan, Ambassador of Lebanon to the UAE; Mr. Charbel Abi Akl, President of the Lebanese Business Council in Abu Dhabi; Mr. Sufyan Saleh, Honorary President of the Lebanese Business Council in Abu Dhabi; Mrs. Pinella Abdallah, Honorable Consul of Lebanon to Abu Dhabi; Mr. Ralph Nehme, Economic Attaché to the Lebanese Embassy in Abu Dhabi; Mrs. Sallama Bu Haydar Al Sayegh, Member of LAU’s Board of Trustees; Mr. Elie Habib, Member of LAU’s Board of Trustees; Our LAU Abu Dhabi Alumni Chapter headed by its president Mr. Naim Stephan; Valued members of the UAE community; Dear guests from the Lebanese Diaspora; Dear LAU Alumni; Ladies and Gentlemen;
Good evening, or to channel my inner President Jabbra مسا الخير.
Let me begin by expressing my deepest appreciation to the United Arab Emirates. This country has long served as a beacon of entrepreneurship and hospitality, bringing together friends, colleagues, and alumni. We are especially indebted for the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Through his leadership, we witness UAE’s impact and global positioning, the transformation of communities in the Arab world and beyond, and its continuous support to the people of Lebanon, the UAE always stands with Lebanon.
While this marks the 29th LAU Gala Dinner in Abu Dhabi, it is only my first. It is truly an honor to be here, and to witness the powerful bond between UAE nationals, the Lebanese diaspora, and our LAU alumni community.
Please join me in extending our heartfelt thanks to the LAU Alumni Chapter in Abu Dhabi—particularly Chapter President Naim Stephan, and committee members Bassam Merheb, Marie Abboud Chahine, Mazen Attar, Ramzi Fayad, May Alem Chehab, Nada Messaikeh, and Rania Abou Hamze—for their dedication in organizing this event and upholding LAU’s enduring tradition of celebrating unity.
Unity is, in fact, the foundation of our future. At my recent investiture ceremony in Beirut, the chosen theme was “United in Renewal.” It reflects not only LAU’s mission, but the broader aspirations of our beloved Lebanon—a country facing immense challenges with resilience, determination, and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, we move forward with the support of our global community—internally and externally, locally and abroad. Today, we reclaim our role as a beacon of education and creativity and remain steadfast in bringing enlightenment and hope to Lebanon, our region, and the world. Today, we let go of fears and doubt, and forge ahead in new areas of education and research and prepare entrepreneurially confident graduates who will leave their mark in Lebanon, in the UAE, in Europe, and beyond.
Renewal is about reinvention, keeping what is best of our past, and creating what is needed for the future. LAU, founded in 1924 as the American Junior College for Women, has gone through various stages of renewal to become the institution it is today. We are indebted to the alumni, faculty and staff of the Beirut College for Women, and the Beirut University College for their pioneering strides. We honor their vision and courage and thank the many of them who are here with us tonight. On their shoulders we stand, and in their achievements, we take pride.
True to our spirit of progress and renewal, LAU is expanding its global footprint. Like our ancestors who took the alphabet to the world, we take our mission global and renew our vow to educate and heal beyond our borders. Our New York Center is now a fully accredited university campus, offering distance-learning degrees and launching new international master’s programs. Thanks to the generous support of Trustee Ray Debbane, the campus will soon welcome students and faculty for in-person learning—marking a significant milestone for any university from the MENA region.
LAU’s motto is “to strive, to seek, to find, and never to yield”, and to do so, we must continue to collaborate—with universities in Lebanon, across the MENA region and beyond, with industry, governments, and with entrepreneurs. Together, we will seize this moment in the life of our university and of Lebanon, to rise and create opportunities for our graduates and a better future for all mankind.
On behalf of the LAU Board of Trustees, our faculty, staff, and administration—and most importantly, on behalf of our students, who continue to inspire us with their hope, creativity, and determination—I extend my sincere thanks to our generous sponsors and to each of you here tonight for your enduring support of education and of LAU.