It is particularly useful for students to hear first-hand information from prominent personalities. It is no coincidence that the conference room of the Management Campus of Széchenyi István University was packed to capacity for the English-language presentation by His Excellency Saud Al-Samsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Hungary, who gave an interesting and impressive presentation on his country.

The Ambassador gave a detailed and exciting presentation about his country to the students

(Photo: Márton Horváth)

The diplomat explained that the United Arab Emirates, with a population of around 10 million, is younger than Széchenyi István University, having been founded in 1971. It is currently home to citizens of more than 200 nations, including 2,600 Hungarians. The Ambassador said that while five decades ago the area was almost desert, today it is home to the most advanced cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He proudly mentioned that his country has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. He also spoke of its excellent location, illustrated by the fact that one third of the world's population can reach the Emirates within four hours and two thirds within eight hours.

Saud Al-Samsi said that for his country's fiftieth birthday, they had adopted ten principles they hoped would lay the foundations for the next fifty years of development. These include a focus on building the best and fastest growing economy in the world, with human capital as the driving force for development. The principles stress the importance of good neighbourliness, openness, tolerance and humanitarian assistance, as well as a call for peace, harmony, negotiation and dialogue to resolve all political disputes. The Ambassador said that, in connection with his country, although many people think first of its truly significant oil production, oil exports represent only a steadily declining slice of exports, at 13 per cent. Interestingly, he added, the UAE launched its own Mars programme in 2014 and in 2021 became the fifth country to have a space probe reach the red planet.

During his visit, His Excellency Saud Al- Samsi met Prof Dr László Palkovics, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Széchenyi István University Foundation, and Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations of Széchenyi István University. At the meeting, he pointed out that the Middle East region has a young population, making Hungarian higher education institutions a potential destination for further studies. He also called for the strengthening of joint research links.

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (centre) also met with Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations of Széchenyi István University and Prof Dr László Palkovics, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Széchenyi István University Foundation (second from left). (Photo: Márton Horváth)

At the end of his programme, the Ambassador visited the Széchenyi István University’s Faculty of Albert Kázmér in Mosonmagyaróvár, where he toured the Faculty's home, the castle of Óvár, which was fully renovated in 2021.

Ambassador Al-Samsi Saud (far left) also visited the exhibition in the castle (Photo: István Kerekes)