Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai, attended this evening a ceremony held by the American University in Dubai (AUD) at the Dubai World Trade Centre to celebrate its 18th Commencement Exercises.

Also present were H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Security, Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department and family members and friends of the 400 graduates who received their American-accredited degrees in the fields of Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Communication and Information and Interior Design.

Sheikh Mohammed arrived at Rashid Hall after which the attendees listened to a rendition of the national anthems of the UAE and the USA, followed by a welcome message by AUD's Executive Vice President Elias Bou Saab.

Elias Bou Saab welcomed Sheikh Mohammed and thanked him for his unlimited support to the university for the past 20 years, saying that over 5,000 students have graduated from the university since its establishment, including 1,500 who benefited from a scholarship granted by Sheikh Mohammed.

Ali Jaber, Dean of the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD, announced that the school had received an accreditation from the American Communication Council.

The keynote speaker, Sara Ganim, who is a CNN correspondent based in New York and a Pulitzer Prize winner, presented her journey in the field of media and the difficulties she met when she started her career as a 24 years old correspondent.

Sheikh Mohammed shook hands with and distributed the diplomas to the graduating students and congratulated them on their success. He then left the ceremony hall surrounded by graduates, faculty and staff, and senior members of administration, amidst applause and cheers.