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Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026 in a ceremony held at Katara Hall in Raffles Hotel Doha. Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, opened the ceremony with a message reflecting on the class’s shared journey and resilience. “Class of 2026, you are an extraordinary and resilient group of students. Twice in your academic careers, world events disrupted your path, and twice you found focus in times of uncertainty and purpose in moments of anxiety. I know I speak for every faculty member at CMU-Q when I say we are very proud of you.” Addressing the graduates on behalf of the global Carnegie Mellon community, CMU President Farnam Jahanian praised their steadfastness. “Amid uncertainty and geopolitical turmoil, you continued your studies while navigating disruption, distance, and concern for loved ones,” he said. “You adapted to rapidly changing circumstances with courage and care for one another. That perseverance speaks volumes about who you are and the kind of leaders you will become.” Representing the Class of 2026, two students addressed the audience. Noora Al Kuwari read an Arabic poem, “Students of Knowledge and Virtue” by Gibran Khalil Gibran, while student speaker Zeina Mahmoud reflected on the class’s four-year journey.Al Kuwari thanked parents and faculty for their support, noting their role in shaping the graduates’ belief in the power of education. Echoing this theme of resilience, Mahmoud said, “We may not have chosen all the conditions that shaped us, but CMU-Q taught us how to grow through them. Like the desert rose, we were shaped by the conditions around us, and by the people who helped us grow.”The ceremony also paid tribute to faculty and students for outstanding achievements. Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards were presented to Zhansaya Matkenova (Biological Sciences), Omar Hatem Ali Khalaf (Business Administration), Zeina Rami Halawa (Computer Science), and Fatou Sokhna Gueye (Information Systems) for achieving the highest academic standing in their respective programs. The four Qatar Campus Scholars for the Class of 2026 were recognized for their academic excellence and leadership: Gana Elnajjar, Phat Hung Diep, Zeina Rami Halawa, and Fatou Sokhna Gueye. Zeina Rami Halawa and Fatou Sokhna Gueye were named Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars. Dr. Varun Sharma, associate teaching professor of marketing, received the Meritorious Teaching Award. With the graduation of the Class of 2026, CMU-Q’s alumni community is now more than 1,500 strong, a network of young professionals driving knowledge and innovation across Qatar and around the world. 

A new centre aimed at bridging academic excellence with industry expertise and equipping the next generation of Qatar’s business leaders was launched Sunday, as QNB and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) formalised a landmark education and innovation partnership.QNB Group CEO Abdulla Mubarak al-Khalifa and CMU-Q dean Michael Trick signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the QNB Centre for Business Innovation, further strengthening the group’s role in advancing business education, innovation, and the development of future-ready talent in Qatar and the wider region.The QNB Centre for Business Innovation will serve as a platform to bridge academic excellence with industry expertise, supporting the development of future-ready talent and fostering innovation across key sectors.The initiative reflects QNB Group’s continued focus on enabling knowledge-driven growth, advancing digital transformation, and contributing to the development of a diversified economy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.The partnership reflects the shared commitment of CMU-Q and QNB Group to advancing education, innovation and research, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration in addressing evolving economic and technological priorities across the region.CMU-Q is a fitting academic partner, offering select, top-ranked programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science and Information Systems. Faculty members are experts in their fields, and students receive an exceptional educational experience that emphasises problem solving, deep disciplinary knowledge, and interdisciplinary innovation.According to QNB, the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to building impactful partnerships that drive sustainable innovation and long-term economic value. It also highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in shaping resilient, future-ready economies driven by knowledge and innovation, QNB stated.Through a structured framework, the partnership will focus on four key pillars: the development of AI-powered business learning tools tailored to regional market dynamics; the delivery of community engagement programmes designed to inspire students across different educational stages; the creation of accessible financial literacy platforms with gamified educational tools; and the establishment of a CEO roundtable series that brings together regional business leaders, policymakers, and academics.By integrating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and analytics, the centre aims to enhance business education, strengthen practical learning outcomes and prepare the next generation of leaders equipped to navigate an evolving global landscape.Al-Khalifa said, “This collaboration reflects our belief that the future of the region will be shaped by its ability to innovate and the strength of its people. Through the QNB Centre for Business Innovation, we are focused on identifying, supporting, and empowering the next generation of Qatari and GCC talent, equipping them to lead in an increasingly dynamic world. As we continue to build for the future, our ambition is to unlock potential, inspire new thinking, and contribute to driving human progress across Qatar and the wider region.”Trick said, “The QNB Centre for Business Innovation represents a powerful convergence of academic excellence and industry leadership. By combining CMU-Q’s expertise in business administration, artificial intelligence, and technology innovation with QNB’s deep understanding of the regional business and financial landscape, we are creating unprecedented opportunities for our students and the broader community.“This centre will not only prepare the next generation of business leaders but also contribute meaningful insights to the challenges and opportunities facing Qatar and the GCC region.” 

HSBC Qatar recently hosted its Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) Client Networking Event in Doha, under the theme ‘Digital Solutions – Driving Efficiency & Resilience’.The event brought together senior executives and industry leaders representing more than 70 clients to explore how digital solutions across payments, cash management, trade and markets are helping businesses drive efficiency, build resilience and capture growth opportunities in an ever-changing marketplace.The initiative underscores HSBC Qatar’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which places innovation and economic diversification at its core, reinforcing Qatar’s role as a hub for digital excellence in the region.The discussion highlighted the role of digital tools in optimising and streamlining operations, reducing risk and strengthening resilience. HSBC’s award-winning solutions were showcased, including Corporate Treasury APIs, HSBC TradePay, and the FX Evolve Platform, which offers clients 24/5 access to seamless transactions across 23 currency pairs.Nicholas Young, country head of Global Payments Solutions, HSBC Qatar, said: “HSBC remains dedicated to supporting our Corporate & Institutional Banking clients with value-added digital solutions that enable them to thrive in a fast-changing global economy. By leveraging digital innovation, our clients can use real-time data to make faster decisions and seize opportunities.”Mohit Joshi, country head of Corporate Banking, HSBC Qatar, added: “HSBC Qatar has a proud legacy of ‘firsts’ in the digital space, from installing Qatar’s first ATM in 1986 to pioneering electronic banking for corporates in 1987. Today, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of digital innovation to deliver solutions that create long-term value for our clients, support their resilience and competitiveness.”The event also featured a panel discussion featuring Aldrin Barretto, senior financial controller of Al-Futtaim Domasco, who shared insights on how HSBC’s digital trade solutions have improved supply chain resilience, and Qaisar Choudhary, COO of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, who talked about how digital payment solutions have had a transformative impact on their relationships with students, suppliers and partners globally.

The start of a new academic year is a moment of tremendous energy. After our most selective admission round in campus history, we welcome our largest-ever incoming class. They are an impressive cohort, and will join our returning students for a busy, productive, and enriching year.This year is particularly significant for Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar as we embark on a new chapter. In May, we extended our partnership with Qatar Foundation for another decade. This partnership is based on a shared vision that education transforms lives. With this new contract, we will have a more significant impact than ever before. We look forward to enhancing the educational experience for our students, and the students of Education City.An exciting development at CMU-Q is the launch of our new Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence. Carnegie Mellon was the first to introduce the BSAI programme in the US, and now we are the first to offer this top-ranked programme in Qatar.For students interested in becoming AI leaders, this degree provides an excellent foundation. For students in the rest of our programmes, AI will continue to be part of their education, as they learn to thrive in an AI-driven world.CMU-Q opened its doors more than two decades ago, and we are proud of our network of more than 1,450 alumni who are making an impact in Qatar and around the world. As the global Carnegie Mellon community celebrates its 125th anniversary, we are filled with optimism for the year ahead and our role in contributing to a future built on knowledge and innovation.