AUB receives largest single endowment in its history for financial aid
Born in 1907 in Haifa, Palestine, Kamel Abdel Rahman graduated from AUB in 1931 with a BA in Business Administration. Following university, he returned to Palestine and, along with his friend and fellow alumnus Emile Boustany (BA, 1929; MA, 1932), established the Contracting and Trading Company (CAT). During the Palestinian exodus (Al-Nakbah) in 1948, Abdul Rahman returned to Lebanon. In 1952, he established the Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), along with friends and former AUB students Said Khoury and Hasib Sabbagh (BA, 1941). CCC went on to become one of the most successful and respected construction companies of the Arab region and the world.
In 1976, following his retirement and departure from CCC, Abdel Rahman established the Kamel Abdel Rahman Education Fund to support the university education of needy Palestinian refugee students. He entrusted two CCC senior employees to manage the Fund on his behalf. Both graduates of AUB, Isam Nubani (BA, 1950 and BSCE, 1951) and Mohamad Hasan Saadi (BE, 1952) decided this year, that AUB would be the best institution to manage the Fund in perpetuity. They recognized the University’s ongoing commitment to helping financially disadvantaged students and its commitment to excellence in higher education.
In making this gift to AUB, Nubani and Saadi said, “AUB had such a profound impact on the life of Kamel Abdel Rahman and our own lives. We know that AUB will ensure that this Fund will benefit deserving Palestinian students for generations to come.”
President Peter Dorman said, “During his lifetime, Kamel Abdel Rahman, along with other former Palestinian students who became his partners, created hugely respected companies. They became inspirational business leaders who positively transformed the lives of thousands of individuals and the Arab region. This very generous gift will give opportunities to countless future students who, in turn, will make their contributions to their societies and the world. We are enormously pleased to receive the Kamel Abdel Rahman Fund and will honor Mr. Abdel Rahman’s noble intentions with pride.”
AUB Provost Ahmad Dallal said, “The Arab region desperately needs higher education and professional opportunities for its large young population. Financial aid is one of AUB’s highest priorities, and scholarships support academically qualified students who otherwise would not be able to attend university. This extraordinary endowment from Mr. Abdel Rahman will impact so many students, their families and communities. We are grateful and hope that it inspires others.”
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