Abdulrahman Saad al-Qahtani, adviser at Qatar Development Bank, and a 2023 graduate who earned a PhD in Economics and Islamic finance from Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Hamad Bin Khalifa University is impacted by the saying “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."
This was a phrase that al-Qahtani would read every day on a wall in his school, and the impressions of those words began to be etched in his mind from his childhood. His passion for knowledge was further fuelled by his father, who also studied law, and became a chief public prosecutor.
For al-Qahtani, his father is his role model and an immense source of inspiration, and his wish is to follow his father's footsteps and continue his legacy of serving society and achieving justice.
"I am extremely proud to have fulfilled my father's dream of obtaining a doctoral degree, which he was unable to complete due to his responsibilities in taking care of me and my siblings,” says al-Qahtani. “It was a tough journey, but through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, I was able to achieve this goal and make my father's dream a reality.”
Al-Qahtani grew up in a family of 17 siblings, where obtaining the best education and advancing through academic degrees was a top priority for their father, with most of them graduating in fields of law, engineering, sustainability, and others.
Nine of the 17 siblings have studied at QF – in HBKU and at Texas A&M University at Qatar – seven of whom have already graduated, including him and his sister, Muneera al-Qahtani, who celebrates alongside him this year by also receiving a PhD in sustainable energy.
Al-Qahtani says: "During my work as a legal counsellor for over ten years at QF, I learned that QF’s leadership believes in the culture of lifelong learning, strives for it, and continuously applies it. This was a turning point in my life. Seeing prominent leaders continuing to educate themselves with persistence and passion was a living example that the journey of learning never ends, and we must always strive for personal and intellectual growth.”
"I dream of teaching law at HBKU and opening a law firm that serves those who cannot afford lawyers’ fees,” he says. “I am passionate about the law and believe that my mission is to use my knowledge and skills to help those in greatest need, as a way of serving Allah. Whether through teaching or practicing law, I am determined to make a positive impact on the world and fight for justice. And I hope to inspire others and enable them to join this profession."