HRH Princess Ayah bint Faisal Patronizes the First Day of Al-Ahliyya Amman University’s Graduation Ceremony for the Second Semester of the 32nd Cohort

Her Royal Highness Princess Ayah bint Faisal graciously patronized the first day of the 2024–2025 second semester graduation ceremony for the 32nd cohort of Al-Ahliyya Amman University, held on the evening of July 22, 2025, at the Arena Theater. The ceremony celebrated graduates from the following faculties: Graduate Studies, Arts and Sciences, Educational Sciences, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Law, and Business. The event was attended by Dr. Maher Al-Hourani, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the University’s Board of Directors, along with his deputy Mr. Omar Al-Hourani, several members of the Board of Trustees, University President Prof. Sari Hamdan, Vice President Prof. Ahmad Hamdan, Assistant to the President for Administrative Affairs and Institutional Development Dr. Iyad Shaaban, as well as deans, faculty and administrative staff members, and a large gathering of families and guests. The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran by student Adam Al-Hadidi from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Before the official speeches, Prof. Sari Hamdan presented a commemorative shield to Her Royal Highness Princess Ayah bint Faisal in appreciation of her patronage. In his speech, Prof. Hamdan welcomed HRH Princess Ayah, Dr. Maher Al-Hourani, Mr. Omar Al-Hourani, vice presidents, deans, faculty and administrative staff, and the graduates and their families. He expressed the university’s pride in holding this event under the patronage of HRH Princess Ayah, a graduate of the University of London with a degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern History. She currently serves as President of the Jordan Volleyball Federation, a board member of the Jordan Olympic Committee, and the first Jordanian Arab woman elected to the board of the Asian Volleyball Confederation. She is also a member of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). Prof. Hamdan emphasized that this day marks the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance, celebrating the academic success of graduates from six faculties. He paid tribute to the university’s founder, the late Dr. Ahmad Al-Hourani, whose visionary leadership laid the foundation for the institution. He noted the continued progress of the university under the leadership of Dr. Maher Al-Hourani, highlighting AAU’s initiatives aligned with Hashemite directives: 1. In response to His Majesty King Abdullah II’s call during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on food security and agricultural technology, the university established the Faculty of Agricultural Technology. 2. Following directives from HRH Prince Faisal bin Al-Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, AAU allocated three scholarships for Jordanian athletes achieving international or Olympic success. Notable recipients include: o Ahmad Abughaush – Gold Medal, Rio 2016 o Saleh El-Sharabaty – Silver Medal, Tokyo 2020 o Zaid Mustafa – Silver Medal, Paris 2024 o Ahmad Abu Al-Soud – First Jordanian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics (Paris 2024) o Mohammad Al-Jaafari – Gold Medalist in Asian Karate, World No.1 (-84 kg) o Ihsan Haddad and Yazan Al-Arab – Football players qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026 o Ahmad Al-Hamarsheh – Basketball national team member (World Championship) o Other celebrated athletes: Zaid Al-Halawani, Mazen Al-Juaidi, Omar Shaqra, Abdullah Hammad, and Hasan Al-Masareh. AAU also offers merit-based discounts for outstanding athletes. 3. Based on directives from HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II to promote technical education, AAU established the Faculty of Technical Education this year. It will welcome its first cohort in October with programs approved by the Higher Education Council, including: o Medical Devices Technology o Hospitality Management (Culinary Arts) o Game Development o Business Administration (Management, Supply, and Procurement) o Film and Television o Health and Social Care o Software Engineering o Agriculture / Crop Production o Interior Design o Automotive Engineering Additionally, the university is now an accredited center for Pearson’s international BTEC programs in several technical fields. Addressing the graduates, Prof. Hamdan expressed pride in their accomplishments and reminded them they are alumni of the first private Jordanian university to achieve global recognition. He highlighted AAU’s top rankings among private universities in Jordan according to both the QS and Times Higher Education rankings, placing 761–770 globally (QS) and 601–800 (Times), and ranked 28th in the Arab region. He congratulated the graduates and their families, and concluded by reaffirming the university’s loyalty and support for the Hashemite leadership, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein. HRH Princess Ayah, accompanied by the university president, honored distinguished alumna Madonna Hanna, a graduate of Cinematic Design in the Faculty of Architecture and Design, who pursued further studies at the Higher Institute for Child Arts and directed the award-winning play Jaffa and the Blue Door. Also honored was outstanding alumna Bana Jamal Raed Duraigmeh, who graduated with distinction in Physical and Health Education and achieved multiple international Taekwondo medals, including gold at the Al-Hassan International Championship. Bana now serves as a professional coach for the national team. Graduate Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Jadeed, majoring in English Language and Translation from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, delivered the graduates’ speech. He reflected on the transformative journey of university life, emphasizing personal growth and the transition into a new chapter. He expressed deep gratitude to the university, faculty, and families for their support. The graduation declaration was then read by Prof. Ahmad Hamdan, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, confirming that the graduates had met all academic requirements. The ceremony concluded with HRH Princess Ayah bint Faisal distributing certificates and awards of excellence to top-performing students. The event was eloquently hosted by students Bana Al-Saafin (Faculty of Pharmacy) and Nancy Al-Adwan (Faculty of Law), who alternated gracefully in presenting the program’s segments. It is worth noting that the second day of the graduation ceremonies, for the remaining faculties including Pharmacy, Allied Medical Sciences, Nursing, IT, Architecture and Design, and Engineering, will be held this evening under the patronage of University President Prof. Sari Hamdan.