Sharjah, April 12, 2023  Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), was in attendance at the AUS Alumni Iftar on April 11. This event, which is organized annually by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA), hosted 500 AUS alumni this year in the AUS Main Building Rotunda.  

In her welcome remarks, Sheikha Bodour told the students they were like AUS ambassadors with a stake in its future.

She added: ‘We want to ensure AUS remains the top choice for students and employers, and a trusted partner for the government and the private sector. Your continued partnership and commitment will be key to maintaining and enhancing our reputation at home and abroad.’
Sheikha Bodour also encouraged the alumni to maintain links with the university throughout their lives. 

‘Your experience, your networks, your contacts, and your ideas have a vital role to play in ensuring we successfully navigate this period of change, and continue to bring value to our students, our partners, and our community,’ she said. 
  
Rania Morsi, Interim Executive Director of OAAA, spoke about the importance of alumni engagement. 

“Our commitment to alumni engagement is rooted in the belief that our graduates are an integral part of our university family, and we are dedicated to maintaining strong relationships with them. As we are gathered here tonight, we are reminded of the spirit of Ramadan, which emphasizes the values of connectivity, community and family. Let us remember the importance of staying connected with one another and supporting each other in our personal and professional endeavors,' she said.
 
Following the iftar, Sheikha Bodour met with members of the alumni association’s board to discuss the role of the association in keeping AUS alumni actively connected to the ongoing life of AUS. With more than 39 alumni chapters locally, regionally, and internationally, the AUS Alumni Association helps AUS graduates fulfill their responsibility of enhancing the growth and development of their university.
 
Ali Lootah, President of the AUS Alumni Association, highlighted the importance of networking among AUS alumni, saying: 'Bonding is key to ensuring successful interaction between AUS alumni. We, at the Alumni Association, strive to create strong bonds between our alumni through communication and sharing. The AUS Alumni Iftar this Ramadan is a nice way to get together and get acquainted.'

Over the past 25 years, AUS has cultivated a reputation for developing the talents of its students so that they are well prepared to contribute to the ambitious nation-building goals of the UAE. AUS students and alumni have helped drive many of the country’s most important achievements, including successful ventures into space, the adoption of alternative energy resources and breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, among many others.