More than 144 graduates from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region gathered in Paris on the eve of this summer’s HEC Paris commencement ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026. The event, the fourth edition of the HEC Paris Doha Graduation Reception, was held at Hôtel Le Marois, a historic venue on Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt near the Champs-Élysées, and was organised by HEC Paris Doha.
The reception brought together participants from four Executive MBA cohorts: Executive MBA Doha, Executive MBA Riyadh, Executive MBA Riyadh PIF, and the Executive MBA – Emerging Leaders Track. These cohorts represent a diverse body of professionals from the GCC, Middle East, and beyond, spanning industries such as finance, healthcare, energy, technology, telecommunications, public services, manufacturing, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
Co-hosted by Djelloul Bekka, Chief Operating and Administrative Officer, and Joshua Kobb, Chief Growth and Impact Officer, with Nayef Sabeh as Master of Ceremonies, the event included speeches from senior HEC Paris officials and alumni representatives. Speakers highlighted the importance of leadership in a rapidly evolving global context and underscored the growing influence of the HEC Paris community in the Gulf region.
Throughout the evening, graduates shared personal and professional reflections on their transformative journeys. Many described returning to education while managing significant career responsibilities as a pivotal step in their development. Shaikha Maryam al-Thani, CEO of the Qatar Credit Bureau and a member of the Executive MBA Doha cohort, spoke about how the programme aligned with her goal to drive innovation and transformation within Qatar’s financial sector. With over 20 years of experience in finance, she emphasized the Executive MBA’s role in broadening her understanding of fintech and financial data.
Nour El-Houda Zorgui, Director of Operational Excellence at Saudi Arabia's Alcare healthcare group and a dental surgeon by training, described the programme as an opportunity to enhance her leadership and operational skills. Originally from Tunisia and part of the Executive MBA Riyadh cohort, she noted that HEC Paris represented a longstanding professional aspiration and a means to cultivate entrepreneurial agility.
Other graduates echoed themes of transformation and leadership development. Tarek Atiyah highlighted the Executive MBA as a space not only to acquire knowledge but also to refine decision-making and leadership approaches, emphasizing the program’s practical impact on his ability to add value and lead with confidence.
The reception also drew more than 430 attendees, including graduates’ family members, showcasing the strong networks forged through the programme. Graduates now become part of the HEC Paris global alumni network, which includes over 83,000 members in 152 countries, enhancing opportunities for collaboration and career advancement.
Overall, the Class of 2026 reflected the diversity and ambition of HEC Paris Doha’s executive education ecosystem, underscoring a shared commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, and positive impact within their organisations and communities.