Dar Al-Hekma University held a graduation ceremony for 467 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the 2018-2019 academic year. The students represented the 17th batch of the School of Design and Architecture, the School of Business and Law and the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education.
The event, which took place on May 16, was held under the patronage of Salih Al-Turki, Jeddah mayor and honorary president of Dar Al-Hekma University, and was attended by mothers of the students.
In her speech, Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi, president of Dar Al-Hekma University, congratulated the students and their parents for their achievements. She wished them luck and urged the students to use the knowledge they gained at university to serve their country and religion.
“Today we celebrate the graduation of a new batch who will join the labor market. I am quite confident that our students will be valuable to the labor market and society and contribute to economic development because they have been prepared by highly-qualified faculty members who enjoy global experience,” she said.
“Indeed, this is one of the most beautiful moments in your life. Today you are reaping the benefits of the years you have spent studying at the university. Your efforts have paid off. You are about to start a new phase of your career and I am confident you will be successful. Keep up the persevering and fruitful efforts to reach the top,” Al-Qurashi told the students.
Jeddah mayor Al-Turki said the new batch of graduating students will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and contribute to the development of the country and society and play a national role as citizens. Congratulating the students and parents, he said their achievements reflect the high standard of Dar Al-Hekma University.
Al-Qurashi thanked the sponsors and founders of Dar Al-Hekma University who have dedicated their time and efforts to the institution. She said the university will continue to recognize them as they are part of the successes achieved by the students.
During the event, speeches were delivered by the university’s board of trustees; guardian of the graduating students Dr. Hatim Al-Marzoky, deputy minister of education for universities; winner of Dar Al-Hekma Award for Outstanding Woman Dr. Eiman Al-Mutairi, assistant minister to the minister of commerce and investment; and the graduates.
Awards were handed out to the top-performing students, including the Abdulmajeed Outstanding Performance Award and Khalid Ali Al-Turki Award for Talents. Donors and sponsors, including Al-Turki, were also honored.
A documentary highlighting the development and achievements of the university was shown to the audience.
467 Dar Al-Hekma students graduate in Jeddah
467 Dar Al-Hekma students graduate in Jeddah
Schneider Electric to advance energy technology to power intelligence at Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, has announced that the second edition of the Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 28–29.
The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders as well as government officials to advance the regional shift toward energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national visions place unprecedented demands on energy systems.
Schneider Electric is advancing its energy technology ambitions with the integration of electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids to unlock the full value of energy, and ensure efficiency and sustainability for all.
This year’s summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the Middle East and Africa, as the region experiences exponential growth driven by national visions, giga-projects, and rapid expansion in AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia stands out within this landscape as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of investment in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy.
With global electricity demand projected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of 3.6% over the 2026–2030 period and global AI workloads projected to lead a 160% increase in data center power demand, the imperative for intelligent, sustainable energy solutions has never been more critical.
“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. With electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and on course to grow at an incremental 3-4% every year to register a whopping 50% by 2035 – driven by surging cooling, desalination, and urbanization demands, the region is at an inflection point,” said Walid Sheta, Zone president, Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric.
“Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa underscores our dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region. This edition will emphasize our emergence as the trusted energy technology partner guiding the region’s next phase of transformation. "
This year’s summit will highlight regional benchmarks from 80+ countries, from the 100% elimination of SF6 and Carbon footprint reduction for fruit producers in South Africa to the savings that EcoStruxure Power & Grid is enabling for the National Electricity Company, Senegal – ensuring recovery times of 3 minutes versus 3 hours earlier.
Blending high-impact programming and latest product launches that position Schneider Electric at the center of MEA's energy transition story, key agenda items include:
CEO Forum in partnership with Forbes Middle East: An exclusive C-suite initiative bringing together 100 business leaders to address strategic imperatives in energy intelligence.
Keynote and Thought Leadership sessions: Featuring executive speakers from industry-leading companies and insights from strategic partners, including Bain & Company.
Innovation Hub experience: Guided tours and live demonstrations, as well as tailored customer experiences of Schneider Electric’s most innovative and integrated energy technology solutions addressing critical challenges in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and digital infrastructure across a 3,000 square feet immersive space.
Stakeholder recognition: Schneider Electric’s dedicated partners will be honored with 20 Cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across four categories – Growth Award, Efficiency Award, Innovation Award, and Sustainability Award, on Day 2 of the Summit.
"Across the Gulf, energy intelligence is becoming the operational reality as public and private sector enterprises race to align with national visions for a decarbonized and sustainable future,” said Amel Chadli, president, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.
“As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric is empowering customers to move beyond electrification and implement AI‑driven, software‑defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resilience, and sustainability at a national scale. This summit offers a roadmap of what’s next as we continue to redefine the relationship between energy and digital capability.”
With AI, cloud, and high-performance computing becoming foundational to national competitiveness, energy technologies today must evolve and become resilient, sustainable and scalable to meet modern intelligence demands.
Schneider Electric's refreshed positioning as an energy technology partner reflects the company's approach to supporting the region's transformation.
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa highlights real-world applications across key sectors, including utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure — demonstrating how intelligent energy management enables operational excellence, resilience, and sustainability across the region's most vital projects.
