DOHA: Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attended Qatar Foundation’s Convocation 2026 ceremony at Qatar National Convention Centre, where 1,100 graduates from its eight higher education institutions were honoured.
Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani also attended the ceremony, under the theme of ‘Celebration’, alongside ministers and dignitaries, university deans and faculty, and the families of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Class of 2026.
In a message H E Sheikha Hind said, “Dear Class of 2026, As you step into your next chapter, I hope you leave us with an understanding that education is the cultivation of both the heart and mind. A kind of sight that can perceive meaning even when the immediate picture is unclear.
“I hope you can be agents of peace in whatever world you inherit, and may your education empower you to respond with grace and courage. The road ahead is uncertain, but then, the best roads always are,” she added.
Congratulating the graduates, President of Higher Education and Education Advisor, QF, Francisco Marmolejo said: “Qatar Foundation Convocation 2026 is an inspiring community celebration of academic achievement and resilience of our graduates who have shown unwavering perseverance even in times of uncertainty. It is also an opportunity to honor the families of graduates, since their unwavering support has been vital to this milestone.”
During the ceremony, members of QF’s Class of 2026 which comprises 444 Qatari graduates, and 660 non-Qatari graduates from 78 countries, with 60 percent of graduates being female and 40 percent being male – took part in the symbolic tradition of stepping through the ‘Door to the Future’, a meaningful moment marking their transition into the next chapter of their lives and celebrating the successful completion of their academic programs.
“Our graduates do more than just complete a degree; they emerge as students of change,” Marmolejo said. “While their education is undeniably top tier, it is their dedication to service that truly sets them apart.
“The universities housed at Qatar Foundation have nurtured them to be ethical leaders who are not only outstanding in their fields, but also deeply invested in engaging and supporting the integral development of their communities.
“I am confident that the standards of integrity and excellence mastered at Qatar Foundation will continue to serve as a guiding compass as our graduates step forward to make their mark on the world. Though the future may be unpredictable, the members of the Qatar Foundation Class of 2026 have already proven that they possess the flexibility and passion needed to lead it. The world is waiting for their impact.”
The keynote speaker at Convocation was Obadah Diab, an alumnus of QF international partner university Georgetown University in Qatar who, having graduated in 2019, is now Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of his home country, Syria. He told the Class of 2026 how, as a student, “in my heart lived a heavy question about purpose, and in my hand was a small lantern, modest in its flame”.
“Years ago, I sat exactly where you are sitting now, carrying vast hopes mixed with the uncertainty of beginnings,” he said.
“Qatar Foundation believed in unlocking human potential and focused on building the whole person. I experienced that personally when I had the opportunity to take courses across different universities in Education City, drawing from their diversity and intellectual integration in ways that broadened my understanding and shaped my character. This exceptional embrace gave us the resilience to keep returning to our greatest dreams – nourishing them with knowledge and protecting them from fading.”
And in his message to QF’s latest graduates, he said: “I realised then that true education is that lantern which keeps a dream alive until its time arrives. It prepares a person not only for their present circumstances, but for the circumstance that today appears impossible. And this light never diminishes. It multiplies and grows stronger in its effect when it is passed sincerely from one hand to another.”
This year at Convocation, 16 graduates received the Qatar Foundation Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional academic success, leadership, innovation, and community impact. Their projects ranged from AI and technology to sustainability and healthcare, and from social impact to community engagement. More than 120 applications were submitted, with a special committee of representatives from QF universities selecting the winners.
Since its establishment in 1995, Qatar Foundation has been dedicated to graduating a generation of inspiring minds and enabling students to achieve their full potential. Its higher education ecosystem encompasses its homegrown Hamad Bin Khalifa University and seven international partner universities – Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar; Georgetown University in Qatar; HEC Paris, Doha; Northwestern University in Qatar; Texas A&M University at Qatar; Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar; and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.
Through this ecosystem, QF has provided a world-class learning environment to thousands of students from around the world, nurturing diverse ambitions and global perspectives. Its growing alumni community, now totaling more than 12,000 graduates, continues to contribute to expertise across local, regional, and international contexts.
“The QF model is a unique multidisciplinary ecosystem that empowers students to curate their education across more than 65 academic programs and multiple world-class institutions,” said Marmolejo.
“This integration extends beyond the classroom; students gain vital, real-world experience through QF’s 50-plus entities and a vast global network of industry partners. This unparalleled level of flexibility serves as a living laboratory for the future.”
