On Wednesday 28 Muharram 1439 A.H., under the patronage of His Excellency the UQU President, Prof. Bakri bin Ma`tuq Assas, the University College in Al-Leith Governorate hosted an honoring ceremony for its former dean, Prof. Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Shanbari. The ceremony was attended by the University Vice President for Branches, Dr. Abdul-Majid Al-Ghamidi, the Dean of Al-Leith University College, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Maliki, a number of deans from the university's colleges, a number of officials from government departments, and Al-Leith dignitaries.

The ceremony started with a recitation from the Noble Qur'an by the student Umar Khard. Then His Excellency the Dean of Al-Leith University College, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Maliki, gave a welcome speech in which he said that on this joyful day Al-Leith University College was celebrating one of its pioneers, Prof. Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Shanbari. He said that the college has prospered under Prof. Al-Shanbari's tenure as its first dean for the last ten years, with the unlimited support of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (may Allah protect him) and His Excellency UQU President. He then reviewed Prof. Al-Shanbari's most prominent achievements during his forty-year career.

This was followed by the screening of a documentary about the career of Prof. Hamid Al Shanbari, and his long journey with science and education.

After that, the student Abdul-Rahman Al-Maliki gave a speech on behalf of the students of the college. He expressed thanks and appreciation for all the efforts of Prof. Hamid Al-Shanbari and all that he has done to raise the status of the college and its staff, and especially for being so concerned about the students as he was so keen on solving their problems.

Dr. Hamid Al-Shanbari then gave a speech in which he praised the support he received from the wise government - May Allah support them - during his tenure, which was considered the founding period of university education in Al-Leith Governorate. Furthermore, he commended the support and guidance of His Excellency the UQU President, Dr. Bakri Ma`tuq Assas, which helped the university branch in Al-Leith distinguish itself through its various quality programs that meet the needs of the labor market. He also reviewed the stages of establishing university education in Al-Leith governorate and its affiliated villages and suburbs.

After that, His Excellency the UQU President delivered a speech saying that thanks to Allah and the support that the Umm Al-Qura University received and still receives from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his faithful Crown Prince - May Allah preserve them - the Governorate of Al-Leith has become one of the Kingdom's Governorates in which university education is expanded, and offered to the children of this precious country with the hope of them being the pride of their country and their families.

His Excellency praised the former Dean of the College, Prof. Hamid Al Shanbari, for his direct supervision of the establishment of university education in Al-Leith Governorate. He is considered one of the pioneers of Umm Al-Qura University, to which he has dedicated ten years of his life. He was entrusted with establishing and developing the nucleus of university education in this governorate through his duties as dean of the University College in Al-Leith for ten years. They were filled with efforts to establish and develop scientific and theoretical departments, and full of gains and achievements. As a result, the branch of this university became a beacon for the students of this governorate and its afflicted centers, villages, and suburbs. This governorate's branch of the university embraces about eight thousand students in four colleges of various disciplines. They are Al-Leith University College, the College of Computers, the College of Engineering, and the College of Health Sciences. It is integrated with the system of the colleges of Umm Al-Qura University to serve the sons and daughters of this blessed country.

Gifts were then distributed and photographs taken.