Umm Al-Qura University has honored 232 of its retired staff members and employees for the Hijri year of 1436. The ceremony was attended by the University President, Prof. Bakry bin Maatouq Assas, University vice-presidents, deans of different faculties and supporting deanships, and the Dean of University Studies for Female Students, Prof. Hala bint Said Al-Amoudi, and the vice-deans for female students divisions.

This was in the ceremony held by the University Vice-Presidency, represented by the Personnel Affairs on Thursday, Jumada Al-awwal 29, 1437 Hijri; the celebration for gentlemen was held in the Historical hall of King Abdulaziz in the university city in Abidiah, while the ladies celebration was held in Al-Jawhara hall in the headquarters of the Deanship of University Studies for female students in Al-Zaher District.

The ceremony started with reciting verses of the Holy Quran, then Umm Al-Qura University Vice-President, Prof. Yasser bin Sulleiman Shosho, gave a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to the University President, Prof. Bakry Assas, for sponsoring the ceremony that shows his keen interest in honoring staff and employees of the University who dedicated their lives and efforts to serving the University and contributed to its progress and advancement.

This honoring ceremony is part of the University’s duty towards its staff and employees who were part of its scientific and practical journey, he confirmed, wishing them all luck in their lives. The audience then watched a video of the University and its scientific and practical journey and the contributions made by everyone in its progress.

Prof. Essam bin Hamed Al-Ahdal, the ex-Vice President of the University for Academic Development and Society Service, on behalf of the retired staff members, and Mr. Fahd Al-Lehiany, on behalf of retired administrative employees, made a speech in which they expressed their deepest gratitude for the University for this generous act of kindness.

They also confirmed that holding this ceremony is not unexpected from the University and its Presidency that always gave the highest priority to its staff and employees and helped them to carry out their mission with the students heartily and with dedication.

This ceremony, confirmed the retirees in the speech made on their behalf, is a proof of cordiality and a confirmation that the University President is absolutely concerned with honoring those who contributed with their efforts and time to serving the academic, scientific, administrative and societal journey of the University. The long years they spent in heartily serving Umm Al-Qura University are not to be forgotten, they confirmed.

Afterwards, the University President, Prof. Bakry bin Maatouq Assas, gave a speech in which he valued the efforts of the honored retirees. Honoring the retired and late staff members and employees by the University aims at showing the University’s recognition of and gratitude to the efforts they exerted and the role they played in the development witnessed by the University thanks to God and to the generous support of the Government of His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, may God protect him, Prof. Assas confirmed.

The integration of the efforts of the staff members and administrative employees contributed to this success and to graduating distinguished national professionals who managed to make their way in the labor market with the purpose of serving their society efficiently, he added. Prof. Assas also requested the retirees, especially the staff members, to try to use their expertise in serving the society and their fellow citizens and wished them ongoing health and happiness and prayed God to rest the souls of those who passed away.

At the end of the ceremony, the University President presented memorial shields and certificate of appreciation to retirees, and similar memorial shields and certificates of appreciation were presented by the Dean of University Studies, Prof. Hala bint Said Al-Amoudi, to female retirees in their celebration.