His Excellency Mr Nayef bin Bandar Al Sudairi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Bahrain, met with Saudi students studying at Arabian Gulf University (AGU). The meeting was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU, along with several embassy officials and a selection of the university's academic and administrative faculty.

The meeting took place in the Prince Abdulaziz Hall at the Princess Al Jawhara Al Ibrahim Centre for Molecular Medicine, Genetics and Inherited Disorders. The aim of the gathering was to address the needs of students in the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences and the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences, and to listen to their opinions and aspirations. This enhances direct communication with the students and embodies the keen interest of the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its scholarship students and citizens residing abroad.

His Excellency the Ambassador affirmed the Embassy's commitment to monitoring the progress and well-being of Saudi students at the university. He expressed his pride in their academic excellence and active participation in various vital disciplines, praising their dedication to their studies and the honourable image of the Kingdom they reflect.

Moreover, His Excellency urged the students to continue striving for academic and intellectual distinction and to take full advantage of the resources the university provides, encouraging them to be representatives of their nation and active contributors to the national development journey. He affirmed that the Embassy's doors are always open to serve Saudi citizens in Bahrain, in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership, which places serving its citizens at the forefront of its priorities.

Additionally, His Excellency the Ambassador expressed his pride in AGU as a leading academic institution within the higher education system of the GCC countries. He praised the sincere efforts and fruitful partnership he witnessed between the university and its students, and commended the leadership role of His Excellency Dr Al Fuhaid in fostering an educational environment that stimulates excellence. He underscored that Saudi students are the nation's true ambassadors, reflecting the Kingdom's aspirations. He also pointed out that the fruitful cooperation achieved between the university and its students over the past years demonstrates a promising path that is steadily moving towards achieving its ambitions.

For his part, His Excellency Dr Al Fuhaid valued the generous support the university receives from the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This support embodies the leadership's commitment to education and investment in developing national talent, describing it as a fundamental pillar in achieving the goals of sustainable development and the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

His Excellency also expressed his pride in the Saudi students and graduates who represent their nation exceptionally well in various fields. He emphasised that their academic achievements reflect the university's commitment to its developmental path and demonstrate the quality of its outcomes and the competence of its students. He added that the university's advancement in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the second consecutive year, joining the list of the top 20% of universities worldwide, is a significant achievement that cements its regional and international standing and affirms its relentless pursuit of its strategic vision.

For their part, the students expressed their thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Ambassador for his visit and his keenness to meet with them, affirming that this communication demonstrates the spirit of support and care afforded to Saudi citizens abroad. They also presented a number of proposals reflecting their aspirations, most notably: expanding practical training opportunities during the internship year in hospitals in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, reconsidering the financial allowances for scholarship students, facilitating research collaboration with Saudi institutions, officially recognising the student club, and including self-funded students in vital and in-demand specialisations such as molecular medicine, learning disabilities, autism, and gifted education.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Excellency the Ambassador affirmed that all proposals and requests would be carefully studied in partnership with the relevant authorities in order to serve the public interest and contribute to enhancing the quality of the experience for Saudi students abroad.