Umm al-Qura University (UQU) has honored its faculty members and administrative staff who retired over the year 1438H, totaling 123 retirees. The ceremony was held under the auspices of the UQU President, Dr. Bakri M. Assas, and was attended by the the vice-presidents and deans of the university's colleges. In the Girls Campus, present were Dr. Hala S. al-Amoudi, dean of the University Studies for Girls, and vice-deans of the colleges and institutes. The ceremony was organized by the UQU Vice Presidency, as represented by the Personnel Affairs Department, on Thursday, Jumada II 24, 1438H, at Kingd Abdulaziz Historical Hall, in Al-Abidiyah Campus. In the Girls Campus, the ceremony was held at Al-Jawhara Auditorium, at the Deanship of University Studies for Girls, in Al-Zaher.

At the outset of the ceremony, Dr. Assas unveiled a graffiti prepared by art education students under the theme: "Our Soldiers on the Borders", in recognition of their valuable sacrifices.

After a brief Quranic recitation at the outset of the ceremony, Nizar Abbas, Head of the Personnel Affairs Department, delivered an address in which thanked the UQU President for patronizing the ceremony. He extended thanks to Dr. Yasser Shushu, the Vice President, for the unstinting efforts he's been exerting to embody the University's keen interest in retirees and contract employees, in recognition of their precious contributions to upgrading the University. The University, he added, has been keen to organize this ceremony in return for the favor of its retirees and contract employees who've spared no effort to partake in the University's pride-worthy scientific march. Meanwhile, he wished them all the best of luck with their future plans.

It followed that a presentation on the University and its academic march was displayed.

 After that, Dr. Loaloah al-Quaifely delivered the retirees' speech via video conferencing, on behalf of the faculty members. And Dr. Abdurrahman al-Ghamdi delivered an address on behalf of the administrative staff. On behalf of retirees, they expressed their sincere thanks to the University for this graceful gesture. This comes as no surprise to the University, they stressed, which has always made every effort to enable its personnel to fulfill their mission to perfection.

Retirees, as expressed in the two addresses delivered on their behalf, made clear that this gesture reflects a state of cohesion of all UQU Personnel. It embodies, also, the UQU President's interest in honoring all who contributed to the University's scientific, academic, administrative, social and educational march.

Speaking for the contract employees whose work tenure at the University has come to a close, Dr. Ehab Abdurrahziq expressed his heartily appreciation for the University and its leadership for allowing them to work in the University's various colleges, institutes and departments, where they were enabled to play their roles in coordination with the faculty members and administrative staff for the advantage of students. They affirmed that working for the University was a great honor. 

For his part, the UQU President, Dr. Bakri Assas, valued the efforts exerted by the honorees. He stressed that honoring the University's retirees, and ex-contract employees, as well as those who passed away, comes in recognition of their strenuous efforts and significant contributions. He mentioned that they were allowed to do their job to the utmost, thanks to Allah, and to the gracious support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The cooperation and integration between academic and administrative staff, he expounded, is the secret of success. Meanwhile, he called on retirees, especially of the faculty members, to keep supporting the University with their extensive expertise. He prayed Allah to confer health and well-being upon them all.

At the end, the UQU President, Dr. Bakri Assas, handed out honorary shields and certificates of appreciation to retirees and ex-contract employees. Similar souvenirs were presented by Dr. Hala al-Amoudi to honorees at the Girls Section.