City University Qatar graduates 171 students, including first AI engineers

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 4, 2026

City University Qatar celebrated the graduation of 171 students from its largest-ever cohort, including the first graduates of five new degree programs in fields such as artificial intelligence and international commercial law. This milestone highlights CUQ’s expanding role in Qatar’s education landscape and its collaboration with Ulster University to provide UK-accredited qualifications locally, supporting the nation’s workforce development goals.

City University Qatar (CUQ) held its Class of 2026 graduation ceremony on September 26 at the Pullman Doha West Bay, marking the completion of studies for 171 students across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programmes. The event was attended by over 500 guests, including senior officials from Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education, as well as representatives from partner institutions and the private sector.

Notable attendees included Minister of Labour His Excellency Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education His Excellency Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi; Assistant Undersecretaries Dr Hareb Mohammed Saeed Al Jabri and Omar Abdulaziz Al Naama; and Dr Batool Hashem Al Sayed, director of the Higher Education Institutions Affairs Department. Others present were Engineer Hassan bin Abdullah Al Marzouqi, director-general of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Natra Abdulla, chairperson of the CUQ Board of Trustees; Professor Paul Bartholomew, vice-chancellor of Ulster University; and senior executives from Artan Holding.

The 2026 cohort is the largest in the university’s history, comprising graduates from eleven programmes spanning law, education, business, computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This ceremony also marked the first graduation in five new degree offerings: the Master of Laws in International Commercial Law; Bachelor of Science (Hons) degrees in Business Analytics and Computer Science; and both the Master of Science and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degrees in Artificial Intelligence.

In his address, CUQ President Professor Faris Gorashi highlighted the significance of the university’s pioneering role in training Qatar’s first Bachelor of Engineering graduates in Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized the importance of responsible stewardship in the field, stating that technological advances alone are not sufficient to shape a better future without wisdom and purposeful guidance.

Professor Paul Bartholomew praised Qatar’s commitment to education and innovation, underscoring the value of the partnership between City University Qatar and Ulster University in the United Kingdom. This collaboration allows students to obtain UK-accredited qualifications locally, benefiting from an internationally connected academic network while studying on CUQ’s Lusail campus.

Dr Batool Hashem Al Sayed expressed the ministry’s appreciation for CUQ’s diverse academic offerings and its role in preparing national talent for Qatar’s workforce. She encouraged graduates to contribute their skills and energy to the nation’s ongoing development.

Hassan Rabiah Al Kuwari offered graduates career advice, encouraging resilience and the pursuit of meaningful impact within their communities.

CUQ’s academic approach integrates theoretical knowledge with practical experience, supported by faculty with industry expertise and strong connections to employers across Qatar. The university continues to assist its alumni with career services and professional development opportunities as the Class of 2026 embarks on their professional journeys.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.