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The American University of Kuwait (AUK) celebrated its Class of 2026 on Monday, October 5, 2026, awarding degrees to 526 graduates during a ceremony held at The Arena in 360 Mall. The ceremony was attended by AUK Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; members of the University’s Board of Trustees; diplomats; distinguished guests; faculty members; Dr. Jasim Al-Ali, Secretary-General of the Council of Private Universities; and the graduates’ families and friends.
The ceremony opened with the national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. AUK President Dr. Aseel AlAwadhi congratulated the graduates on their achievement and commending their accomplishments throughout their academic journey. She emphasized the importance of the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and values they had gained during their years at AUK, highlighting their future role in serving their communities and contributing to the future of Kuwait and the world.
The ceremony also featured remarks by Dr. Jasim Al-Ali, Secretary-General of the Council of Private Universities, followed by the guest speaker, author Bothayna Al-Essa, who addressed the graduates on the importance of knowledge and the human experience. She encouraged them to build on what they had learned throughout their academic journey and to use their knowledge and abilities to make a positive impact on their communities and the world around them.
Two class valedictorians also shared their reflections on their academic journeys and marking this important milestone with their fellow graduates.
The ceremony then proceeded to one of the most anticipated moments for the graduates: the conferral of degrees. AUK President Dr. Aseel AlAwadhi, alongside the College Deans, awarded degrees to the graduating class.
The ceremony concluded with graduates celebrating this memorable milestone and taking commemorative photographs with their families, friends, and faculty members, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their personal and professional journeys.
The College of Engineering & Applied Sciences at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) is proud to announce that RACXpert, an academic advising tool developed within the College, has been shortlisted for the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2026 in the Access, Diversity & Inclusion category.
Selected from 2,226 submissions, RACXpert has been recognized for its innovative approach to supporting students and faculty advisors in academic planning.
This milestone is especially meaningful as RACXpert is the first project from Kuwait in the current decade to be shortlisted for the QS Reimagine Education Awards and progress to the next round.
RACXpert was developed to help faculty advisors and students plan for the upcoming semester with greater clarity and confidence. The tool brings together a student’s academic progress and available course options, helping advisors identify courses that meet degree requirements and keep students on track toward graduation, while reducing the time spent on administrative and logistical tasks.
The idea behind RACXpert was inspired by the team’s experience working closely with students and recognizing the time and effort involved in reviewing academic records and course requirements during advising.
The development team consists of Eng. Ali Behiry and Eng. Aya Eltoukhy Rezk, both Instructional Assistants in the Engineering Labs.
“We are immensely proud that RACXpert has been shortlisted for this prestigious award. This recognition reflects the dedication, spirit of innovation, and commitment to academic excellence within CEAS. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Eng. Ali and Eng. Aya on this outstanding achievement. I also express my sincere gratitude to the CEAS faculty, whose valuable insights, thoughtful feedback, and continued support over the past three years have helped shape RACXpert into what it is today.” — Prof. Mohammed El-Abd, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The team will be represented at the QS Reimagine Education Awards and Conference in London from December 6–8, 2026, where the shortlisted projects will be recognized alongside innovative education initiatives from around the world.
This recognition highlights the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences’ continued efforts to develop innovative solutions that enhance the academic experience and support student success.
The American University of Kuwait continues its commitment to promoting mental health and building a more aware university community.
Through the “Houna” initiative, we strive to support our students and university community by raising mental health awareness, encouraging dialogue, and creating a safe space that supports our community.
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Burgan Bank, reflecting the University’s commitment to providing greater support and financial options for its students, helping facilitate their academic journey.
This partnership comes as part of AUK’s ongoing commitment to empowering and supporting its students throughout their university experience.
CBE was proud to host the Kuwait Association of Accountants and Auditors (KAAA) on October 7. The day featured an engaging information booth and an insightful session with KAAA President Mr. Abdullah AlEissa, alongside board members Dr. Fahad AlAzmi and Faisal AlTubaikh.
They shared KAAA's initiatives and highlighted how future accounting graduates will drive corporate development and economic growth.
A huge thank you to our amazing Accounting Club for their incredible efforts and involvement in making this event a success! Your dedication to connecting students with industry leaders is invaluable.
Thank you to KAAA, our faculty, and all the students who participated!
Images from the event
AUK continues to broaden its students' horizons through an expanding network of partnerships with distinguished universities across the globe, offering pathways to world-class academic and cultural experiences.
This fall, AUK students Jasmine Naser and Dana Ahmed have embarked on a semester abroad at Sciences Po, one of Europe's most prestigious institutions in the social sciences. The two are studying at different campuses of the university. Jasmine, a Management major, is in the vibrant capital of Paris while Dana, a Finance major, is in the historic city of Reims, each gaining a unique perspective on French academic and cultural life. Their journey reflects the strength of AUK's partnership with Sciences Po and the University's ongoing commitment to opening doors to meaningful international learning.
Throughout the semester, Jasmine and Dana will earn academic credit while immersing themselves in a new environment, sharpening their adaptability and independence, and building intercultural connections that extend well beyond the classroom. Experiences like these lie at the heart of AUK's mission to prepare globally minded graduates equipped to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
As their semester in France unfolds, the AUK community proudly follows Jasmine and Dana's journey, eager to see how their time at Sciences Po shapes the next chapter of their academic lives. They now join a growing community of AUK students who have turned an experience abroad into a defining part of their education — and the University looks forward to welcoming them home with new perspectives to share.
Dana Ahmed
Jasmine Naser
Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, Professor of Political Science and International Law at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), has published a new scholarly article examining Kuwait’s constitutional framework for incorporating and applying international law within its domestic legal system.
Titled “The Constitutional Incorporation of International Law in Gulf Arab States: Kuwait’s Model of Qualified Dualism in Comparative Perspective,” the article explores how Kuwait’s constitutional system governs the relationship between international legal obligations and domestic law. The study was published in the Journal of Daoist Studies (a Scopus-indexed Q2 academic journal), Vol. 19, Special Issue 2 (2026), pp. 157–172.
The article represents the first systematic doctrinal study in the English-language comparative international law literature of Kuwait’s constitutional framework governing the incorporation and domestic application of international law. The research introduces the concept of “qualified dualism” as a framework for understanding Kuwait’s distinctive approach to international law. Dr. Hamzeh examines how Kuwait combines formal constitutional requirements for incorporating international treaties into domestic law with circumstances in which treaty provisions may have direct judicial applicability.
A central focus of the study is Article 70 of Kuwait’s Constitution, which establishes requirements concerning the ratification of treaties. The research examines how these constitutional requirements interact with judicial practice and the doctrine of self-executing treaty provisions. According to the study, this creates a distinctive relationship between international and domestic law that does not fit neatly within conventional classifications of monism and dualism.
The article makes three principal contributions to comparative international and constitutional law. First, it provides a systematic analysis of Kuwait’s constitutional framework governing the incorporation and domestic application of international law. Second, it develops “qualified dualism” as an analytical framework for understanding the interaction between constitutional requirements and judicial applicability. Third, it contributes a Gulf and non-Western perspective to comparative international law scholarship, providing a basis for further research into how different constitutional systems receive, interpret, and apply international legal obligations.
Dr. Hamzeh’s research contributes to broader scholarly discussions on constitutional law, international law, and legal systems in the Gulf, while highlighting Kuwait as an important case for understanding the diverse ways in which international law operates within domestic constitutional frameworks. The publication reflects AUK’s commitment to supporting faculty scholarship, research, and intellectual engagement with issues of significance to Kuwait and the wider region.
Read the full article: The Constitutional Incorporation of International Law in Gulf Arab States: Kuwait’s Model of Qualified Dualism in Comparative Perspective
Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, Professor of Political Science and International Law
As part of its commitment to serving the community and creating a positive social impact, the American University of Kuwait (AUK), in collaboration with LOYAC, launched a community initiative to support families with limited income and help them prepare for the new academic year.
The initiative included the preparation of comprehensive school kits containing essential supplies for students across different educational stages. A total of 200 students received the kits through LOYAC, helping them prepare for the academic year and ensuring they have access to the basic educational resources they need.
This initiative reflects AUK’s commitment to strengthening its social responsibility and contributing to meaningful community-focused initiatives that create a lasting positive impact, while supporting students as they begin a new academic year.
Through this collaboration, AUK seeks to work alongside LOYAC to help alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with preparing for the academic year and ensure that students have access to the essential supplies needed to begin their studies with confidence and readiness.
Volunteering also represents an essential component of this initiative, highlighting the important role volunteers play in promoting a culture of giving and encouraging individuals to actively contribute to serving others. Such volunteer experiences provide participants with an opportunity to make a direct contribution to the community, foster teamwork and initiative, and strengthen their sense of responsibility toward others, highlighting the value of volunteerism and its role in community development.
The initiative also reflects the importance of partnership and collaboration between institutions in uniting efforts and expanding the scope of initiatives aimed at supporting students. AUK continues to collaborate with organizations across Kuwait to support initiatives that contribute to empowering individuals, addressing their needs, and building a better future for all.
Group photo of AUK volunteers during the initiative
General photo of the initiative
General photo of the initiative
AUK is proud to announce that its Tutoring Center has successfully renewed its College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) for the fourth consecutive cycle. The certification, which has been renewed through 2030, marks more than a decade of AUK’s commitment to elevating and continually updating its peer tutor training standards and practices through CRLA certification.
The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to advancing learning assistance, reading, and academic support services. Through its rigorous International Tutor Training Program Certification, institutions demonstrate that their tutor training programs meet internationally recognized standards in tutor selection, training, supervision, and ongoing evaluation.
The renewal reflects AUK’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality peer tutoring services. Following a comprehensive peer-review process, the University’s Tutoring Center once again met CRLA’s rigorous standards, reaffirming the strength and effectiveness of its tutor training program.
Beyond validating the quality of AUK’s tutoring program, the certification equips student peer tutors with internationally recognized training that strengthens their academic, professional, and leadership skills. It also ensures that students benefit from a tutoring program aligned with global best practices in academic support.
During the 2025–2026 academic year, the Writing and Tutoring Centers continued to support hundreds of students across the University while certifying a new cohort of peer tutors who successfully completed the CRLA International Tutor Training Program.
This achievement reinforces AUK’s ongoing commitment to student success by fostering a collaborative learning environment that empowers students both inside and outside the classroom while maintaining internationally recognized standards of academic support.
AUK Writing & Tutoring Centers’ staff with some of the peer tutors and student employees celebrate the renewal of the CRLA International Tutor Training Program Certification
AUK has entered into an official collaboration with Ruba, a Kuwait-based digital platform specializing in flexible tuition payment solutions, to provide students and their families with greater convenience and flexibility in managing tuition fees.
The collaboration reflects AUK’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience and providing services that respond to the evolving needs of its community. By facilitating access to flexible tuition payment solutions, AUK aims to make the process of managing educational expenses more convenient for students and their families.
Ruba’s platform provides families with a streamlined digital experience for managing tuition payments and facilitating access to flexible solutions provided by Ruba’s accredited Sharia-compliant financing partners.
The platform has been developed to address the challenges associated with large, upfront education payments by allowing eligible families to manage tuition through structured installment arrangements.
Through the partnership, students and parents can benefit from a more convenient approach to tuition payment management, while maintaining a seamless relationship with AUK’s existing tuition payment processes. The collaboration also reflects the university’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with innovative organizations that contribute to the accessibility and overall quality of the higher education experience in Kuwait.
The partnership between AUK and Ruba highlights a shared commitment to supporting students and families through innovative solutions that simplify the financial aspects of higher education.
By introducing greater flexibility into tuition payment options, the collaboration aims to provide families with additional support as they invest in their students’ academic and professional futures.
Through partnerships such as this, AUK continues to explore opportunities that enhance the overall student experience and provide its community with services that are accessible, practical, and responsive to their needs.
Group photo for AUK & Ruba representatives
