City University Qatar (CUQ) celebrated the graduation of 171 students at its Class of 2026 ceremony on September 26 at Pullman Doha West Bay, in the presence of HE the Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh al-Marri.
Graduates from Higher National Diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes received their awards before more than 500 guests.
Guests included from the HE the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Undersecretary Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs Dr Hareb Mohammed Saeed al-Jabri, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama, and the director of the Higher Education Institutions Affairs Department, Dr Batool Hashem al-Sayed.
They were joined by the director-general of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, Eng. Hassan bin Abdullah al-Marzouqi, CUQ Board of Trustees chairperson Natra Abdulla, Ulster University vice-chancellor Prof Paul Bartholomew, and senior representatives of Artan Holding.
The Class of 2026 is the largest to date, spanning 11 programmes across law, education, business, computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
It also marks the first graduating cohorts in five programmes: the Master of Laws in International Commercial Law, the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business Analytics, the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science, the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and the Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Artificial Intelligence.
Addressing the graduates, CUQ president Prof Faris Gorashi said: “We are especially proud to graduate Qatar’s first cohort from the Bachelor of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence programme, alongside our graduates in the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence.”
“You are entering a field that is reshaping industries and societies,” he said. “Yet technology alone cannot create a better future. That depends on the people who guide it with wisdom, responsibility, and a clear sense of purpose.”
“It is truly remarkable to celebrate this milestone here in Qatar, a country whose ambition for education, innovation and human development is recognised across the region and beyond,” said Prof Bartholomew. “It is vital to us at Ulster University to partner with an institution whose ambition for the development and success of students matches our own.”
“The ministry deeply appreciates the university’s continued efforts and firm commitment to providing diverse educational pathways that help prepare national talent, and values its academic partnership with Ulster University, which enriches students’ learning experience,” said Dr al-Sayed. “Dear graduates, today you move from the classroom to the world of work. Your nation is counting on your energy and believes in your abilities.”
“Life is a series of decisions, and from today, every step you take is a decision,” said Qatar Stars League executive director (Sales, Marketing and Communication) Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari. “If a decision does not work out, it is not the end of the road; it may simply be a sign to change direction. Do not let fear set your path, and do not compare yourselves to others. Above all, leave a positive impact on your country.”
Through its partnership with the UK’s Ulster University, the CUQ offers programmes leading to degrees awarded by Ulster University, studied full-time at its Lusail campus.
The partnership gives students in Qatar access to a UK qualification and an internationally connected academic community without leaving the country.
The CUQ’s academic model combines theoretical grounding with practical, career-focused learning, supported by faculty with industry experience and by links with employers across Qatar.
The Class of 2026 joins a growing alumni network that the University continues to support through career services, alumni events, and continued professional development.
