The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s visited the University of Birmingham today to learn more about the University’s work and its plans for deepening its engagement with the Emirates.
His Excellency Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui met the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood and a number of other senior figures at Birmingham, where he discovered more about the University’s current activity and future ambitions in the UAE.
The Ambassador took the opportunity to view the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript, part of the University’s Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts. The fragments held by the University were revealed to be among the earliest surviving leaves of the Qur’an. He is pictured above viewing the manuscript with Sarah Kilroy, Head of Conservation, and Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International).
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood said: “I am delighted to welcome our distinguished guest to the University of Birmingham and demonstrate to Ambassador Almazroui our commitment to and engagement with the UAE.
“We are a global university and welcome international students from more than 150 countries to Birmingham. Students from the UAE, and indeed the wider Middle East, are an important part of our plans to continue developing as an ambitious, outward-looking university of the world.”
As well as meeting Sir David and Professor Mason, the Ambassador met Professor Andy Schofield, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and Professor Myra Nimmo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.
Subsequently, and in accordance with the English customs, Ambassador Almazroui took a traditional afternoon tea with a group of UAE students, who shared their experiences about living and studying at Birmingham.
His Excellency Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui said: “I am delighted to be in Birmingham at this great institution – particularly meeting with Sir David Eastwood and his colleagues. I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss future plans for the University of Birmingham in the UAE and co-operation on projects that will involve academic and strategic co-operation in various fields, such as technology, economy and culture.
“I am honoured to have viewed the Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, including one of the earliest Qur’an scripts. I offer sincere thanks to the University for caring for such a valuable script and may other documents relating to Islam and theology. I was also pleased to meet UAE students and exchange views on their academic progress her at the University of Birmingham.”
Ambassador Almazroui arrived in London in May 2016 to take up his appointment as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Court of St. James’s.
Before his diplomatic posting to the UK, Ambassador Almazroui held the position of Ambassador of the UAE to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as Head of the UAE Mission to the European Union from 2011 to 2016.
For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or +44 (0)782 783 2312. Out-of-hours enquiries: +44 (0) 7789 921 165.
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