The American University of Bahrain’s (AUBH) Class of 2026 walked across the stage at Exhibition World Bahrain to collect their certificates, the moment many had been working towards for years, finally arriving. It was the fourth graduating cohort for the University, and for the 148 students from across three colleges, the ceremony marked both an ending and a beginning.
The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and brought together dignitaries, senior guests, members of the University’s academic and administrative staff, and proud parents who had come to watch their children graduate.
The graduates represented a wide range of academic disciplines, reflecting AUBH’s growing role in preparing national talent for key sectors across Bahrain. H.E. Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, delivered the keynote address, congratulating the graduates and praising the dedication they had shown throughout their studies.
American University of Bahrain’s Academic Achievers
The ceremony also recognised individual achievement. His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented several Academic Achievement Awards to students who had stood out for their performance. Mariam Mohamed Madan received the award for the College of Business and Management, sponsored by the National Bank of Bahrain. Ali Khalifa Al Thawadi was honoured for the College of Engineering and Computing, sponsored by Gulf Air. Esraa Ali Bin Rajab received the award for the College of Media and Design, sponsored by Khaleeji Bank.
There were further highlights for graduates heading into the next stage of their careers. Beyon presented its award to Salwa Beshara, while Dr Wafa Almansoori announced that Maria Al Awadhi had secured an internship with McLaren Racing. Noor Abduljalil and Mohammed AlTooq were also recognised with year-long internship opportunities at CERN.
Dr Wafa Almansoori, Interim President and Provost of AUBH, thanked His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his patronage of the ceremony, calling it a reflection of the ongoing support given to higher education in Bahrain.
“Today, we celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance as we graduate AUBH’s fourth cohort,” she said. “This milestone reflects the University’s mission to advance academic excellence and prepare graduates to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to the wider development of the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
She added that since its founding, AUBH has aimed to build a learning environment that links academic knowledge with real-world experience, helping students develop the confidence to take on what comes next. “We are proud of our graduates and confident that they will represent the University and its values with distinction as they move forward with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose,” she said.
As the last of the Class of 2026 left the stage, certificates in hand, the ceremony closed on a note that felt less like an ending and more like a send-off, one more group of graduates ready to take what they had learned out into the Kingdom.
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