His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhiad, President of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), met today with Mr Rafik Nayed, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Salam Bank, accompanied by Mr Ihab Abdul Latif Ahmed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs, and Mr Mahmoud Qannati, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications. The two sides explored avenues for future collaboration to support the University’s digital education initiatives.

They discussed a framework for a close partnership founded on digital innovation and the optimal utilisation of Artificial Intelligence applications, thereby benefiting current and future generations across a range of academic disciplines, particularly banking management.

Dr Al Fuhaid welcomed the proposed alliance with Al Salam Bank and outlined strategies to strengthen institutional cooperation, which will enhance the University’s teaching and research environment in partnership with Bahrain’s banking sector. He praised the Bank’s ongoing support for educational and research initiatives at universities and educational institutions in the Kingdom and emphasised the importance of developing joint strategies that contribute positively to students’ academic experience.

For his part, Mr Nayed expressed Al Salam Bank’s readiness to back high‑impact initiatives that improve the effectiveness of digital education and support the creation of a sustainable and knowledge‑based economy at AGU. He commended the King Hamad Chair in the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences and affirmed the Bank’s commitment to broadening cooperation with leading academic institutions.

The meeting aimed to discuss potential areas of cooperation, set shared objectives for training, professional development and scientific research, explore ways to support future projects and plans for enhancing digital education, and propose joint training programmes and community initiatives.

This engagement forms part of AGU’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with private‑sector and banking institutions, forging strategic partnerships that advance sustainable development goals, especially in the fields of innovation, digital transformation and emerging technologies. The meeting marked an important step towards a strategic alliance focused on supporting digital education initiatives.

Also in attendance were Prof. Waleed Zubari, Dean of the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences and Director of the University’s Academic Chairs Committee, and Prof. Al Ajab Mohammed Al Ajab, Head of the Education and Curricula Department and Supervisor of the King Hamad Chair for Digital Education.