KAUST CEREMONIAL SPEECHES

Your Majesty, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Honorable Guests,

It is a pleasure and an honor, Your Majesty, to welcome you and your honorable companions on such an historic day for science and scientists, and in a part of our country that is destined to be of world renown. Today, we celebrate the launching of one of the Kingdom's pioneering projects, an ambitious undertaking that will have a profound effect on the country's path toward development and modernization by bringing to bear the tools of science and technology to serve the Kingdom's aspirations.

Honorable Guests,

Today, we are here to witness a breakthrough of great significance to the Saudi nation. This project is not only a monument to science of global dimensions, but also represents a new milestone on the road toward greater prosperity. Here today, we launch the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to benefit our community, our region and the world. The vision of this university transcends national and regional boundaries, seeking to benefit mankind in every part of the world, as advanced technology and communications eliminate barriers to our ability to exchange knowledge, share experiences and benefit from each other in so many ways.

As we have pushed forward in our efforts to build this extraordinary scientific endeavor, my colleagues and I have received direct encouragement and support from His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. At no time has any obstacle slowed our work, and we are grateful to Your Majesty for having made such progress possible.

Your Majesty,
Honorable Guests,

The great work that will be achieved at this university, including advanced scientific research, collaboration with the world's leading academic institutions, and educating generations of researchers and post-graduate students, will have widespread positive impact. Built here on the western coast of Saudi Arabia, KAUST will be a world-class university open to the most talented and outstanding scientists, researchers and students from the Kingdom and all countries of the world.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is based on three primary functions: forming a knowledge-based community, supporting scientists and their work at the national and international levels, and benefiting the community, region and world through research and economic development. KAUST will achieve these goals through partnerships and collaboration agreements with leading universities and research centers around the world. These partnerships will allow for the exchange of scientific expertise and knowledge, and create synergies and foster cooperation toward the advancement of scientific progress both in the Kingdom and throughout the world. Hence, I can say that KAUST will be not only a source of pride and honor for the Kingdom's leadership and people, but also an endowment for humanity and an inspiration for a promising future as an international center for scientific discovery and development of new technologies that improve our lives.

Honorable Guests,

His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ibn Abd Al-Aziz told me that he has held the vision for this university for twenty-five years. It is a distinct honor for me to lead the team entrusted with its implementation. But however much I am personally honored with this responsibility, it is a source of great pride that this cultural and scientific milestone also reflects our glorious heritage, having led the world in the mastery of science, and in the development and application of scientific knowledge for the benefit of mankind. Saudi Arabia, and the Arab region as a whole, is therefore an appropriate place to nurture this university to bear the fruit of scientific discovery for the people of the Kingdom, the Arab world and all the other societies working with us.

Islamic civilization over the centuries brought forth a number of intellectuals who count among humanity's most brilliant minds. It brought forth a number of history's most talented scientists, who enriched human civilization and contributed to the progress and development of engineering, mathematics and other scientific fields. The contributions of Islamic civilization in its glorious past helped to transform the world into what it is today. These contributions still represent a source of inspiration for many scientists and experts in various fields of study. Now, KAUST will contribute to rekindling the torch of knowledge bequeathed by that civilization. With its deep-rooted heritage, KAUST emerges as a new “House of Wisdom” for the modern age, and a beacon for a new age of science and knowledge in this region. We regard KAUST as a new world center of science and knowledge, and heir to one of the longest traditions of scientific research in human history.

Your Majesty, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,

Today, we are honored by your presence and kind patronage as we celebrate the launching of this unique educational and research institution, and anticipate the realization of its great promise. We have already begun recruiting students, professors and researchers, and collaborating with other academic centers on research. Yet, we still have much to do before our institution's laboratories and lecture rooms begin to operate less than two years from now. I wish to emphasize my full confidence in all the people involved in this extraordinary scientific undertaking. I know they will dedicate all their efforts to bring this great university into existence, and to make real the vision and insight behind its creation.

Since work began on this university, Your Majesty's guidance has been a beacon for us in accomplishing our mission. Your continuous support has helped us reach our goals and allow us to continue our efforts to bring this great project into existence. I wish therefore to express to Your Majesty our deep gratitude for your vision, encouragement and support. I pray to the Almighty to realize your hopes and ambitions for this great scientific monument, and that you will soon see its researchers and graduates use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of our country and the whole world.

Allow me, Your Majesty, to convey to you the sincere thanks and gratitude of all the researchers and scholars who will use this university as a center for their research in the various scientific disciplines, and the sincere thanks and gratitude of all the students who will start their scientific and engineering careers at this university.

I wish also to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to members of the university's International Advisory Council and members of the Presidential Search Committee, who continue to dedicate their best efforts and outstanding expertise to allow KAUST to reach its noble goals. I wish further to thank all my colleagues, whose devotion of their efforts and time have allowed us to reach this phase of KAUST's creation. I fully trust that these efforts will continue in the future until this project is accomplished to the standards we all expect.

Thank you.