21 January 2014, Dubai, UAE - Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of Al Habtoor Group met with Lisa Anderson, President of the American University in Cairo (AUC) on Tuesday, 21st January 2014 at his office on Al Wasl Road. Ms Anderson came to personally inform Mr. Al Habtoor that he will receive an Honorary Doctorate from the respected American university. She was accompanied by Moataz Al-Alfi, Chairman, Americana - who is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at AUC and Mary Iskander, Senior Advisor to the President, AUC. Present from the Al Habtoor Group were Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman and CEO, Paul Rayner, Advisor to the Chairman, and Noura Badawi, Director of Media and Communications.

Mr. Al Habtoor has long been a supporter of the AUC. In 2010 he donated $5 million to finance a Football and Track Stadium in his name at the Cairo campus. He visited the university to officially inaugurate the Olympic standard track and stadium the same year. It is part of the AUC Campus.

The President of the AUC said the university wanted to recognise Mr. Al Habtoor's contribution to AUC and invited Mr. Al Habtoor to formally accept the honorary doctorate Stadium and Track. She also presented the Chairman with an Impact Report so he could see the benefits of his contribution. Among other events, the stadium was used to host the Egyptian Special Olympics in 2013.

The group also discussed research currently underway at AUC. Ms Anderson said they are working on - and making progress with diagnostic techniques for Hepatitis C. Al Habtoor suggested the delegation visit the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Simulation Centre in Dubai Healthcare City, which he funded. The center is a pre-hospital training facility for simulated trauma. It consists of two high-fidelity operating rooms, featuring functioning adult and paediatric intensive care and operating room equipment as well as an Intensive Care Unit/Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit, patient care rooms, a ward environment and a maternity room

Al Habtoor praised the importance of the research and said he was happy that the political situation has improved in Egypt. "I miss Egypt. I have fond memories there and hope to visit again soon."

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The American University in Cairo AUC
The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a premier English-language institution of higher learning. The University is committed to teaching and research of the highest caliber, and offers exceptional liberal arts and professional education in a cross-cultural environment. AUC builds a culture of leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates, and is dedicated to making significant contributions to Egypt and the international community in diverse fields.

The Al Habtoor Group
The Al Habtoor Group is a UAE-based conglomerate. While best known for construction, it is globally recognised through its involvement in the hotel, automotive, real estate, education, insurance and publishing sectors.

One of the UAE's most respected and successful businesses, the Al Habtoor Group today operates in the UAE and international markets.

The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation
The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation was officially launched in January 2013. The aim of the Foundation is to focus mainly on developing and improving human societies in need in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and beyond; to improve the lives of some of the poorest people, with a high priority on health and development; to provide assistance to communities around the world affected by natural disasters and social calamities and to meet the needs of orphans; to help improve education and scientific research and promote inter-religious and inter-cultural communications. Al Habtoor Group Chairman, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, has allocated 20 per cent of the Al Habtoor Group for the Foundation.

© Press Release 2014