** SABIS^® Celebrates 40 Years in the U.A.E. **

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Contact: Ms. Amy Wesley
Email: awesley@sabis.net

For Immediate Release

Dubai, U.A.E. – On Friday, February 10, 2017, under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of the Emirates Group, SABIS^® celebrated 40 years of successful operations in the U.A.E. with a gala dinner at the Conrad Hotel, Dubai. SABIS^® Co-founders Leila Saad and Ralph Bistany, as well as several SABIS^® Board members, warmly welcomed prominent guests including government officials, business associates, partners, school directors, staff, and alumni, all of whom enjoyed a gala evening of speeches, awards, and entertainment.

Speakers at the event included SABIS^® Vice President Victor Saad, U.A.E. Minister of State for Youth and SABIS^® alumnus Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, and SABIS^® President Carl Bistany. In his welcome speech, SABIS^® Vice President Victor Saad reflected on the network’s 40^th anniversary in the U.A.E. “Entering the U.A.E. was a turning point in the history of SABIS^® and we will always be grateful for the hospitality, trust, and support of its authorities. In every sense, this country has been a second home for us, a prominent stepping-stone in our evolution, and will remain deeply embedded in our hearts.” In her speech, H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, who is currently the youngest serving minister in the world, took the opportunity to thank SABIS^® and her alma mater for equipping her with all the tools she needed to achieve success. SABIS^® President Carl Bistany rounded out the speakers on the program by saying, “SABIS^® has been guided over the past 40 years by a mission to give students a high-quality education that prepares them for success regardless of what the future holds. Based on the success achieved by more than a generation of our students [in the U.A.E.], I can say with confidence that we have fulfilled our mission. We are proud of what we have accomplished here and are committed to continuing to empower students in the U.A.E. and around the world for generations to come.”

The evening’s festivities also included musical performances and a surprise award. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presented SABIS^® Co-founder Ralph Bistany, who has been a driver of the network’s U.A.E. development for 40 years, with an award in recognition of his “unwavering lifetime commitment to enhancing education.”

SABIS^® is a global education network with an active presence in 20 countries on five continents. SABIS^®’s history in the U.A.E. dates back to 1976, with the opening of the International School of Choueifat – Sharjah. Today, the network operates 14 schools in the U.A.E. and educates close to 28,000 students there. Plans are currently underway for the opening of a school in Fujairah, which would make a SABIS^® education available to students in all seven emirates.

For highlights of the gala celebration, visit Facebook.

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