The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut now possesses a high-tech wing consisting of three computer labs and one video-conferencing hall, thanks to a donation by Kuwaiti businessman and alumnus Faisal Ali Al-Mutawa.

The wing will be known as the Faisal Ali Al-Mutawa Technology Suite and will include up to 62 workstations, thus providing the business school with fully-equipped, interactive classrooms.
A public administration and political sciences 1970 graduate from Kuwait, Al-Mutawa says his ties to AUB and Lebanon have always been “special” ever since he first became acquainted with both.

“I have a special love to the institution that taught me a lot,” said Al-Mutawa, during the June 24 inauguration of the suite. “This is where I got my education and enlightenment. It has taught me not to memorize, but to analyze.”

Indeed, his affiliation with AUB is a testimony to his love of his alma mater. Al-Mutawa is  a member of the Middle East Advisory Board for OSB and the president of the AUB Alumni – Kuwait Chapter. He is also a former president of the council of the Worldwide Alumni Association of AUB (WAAAUB) and is a major donor to the University, with a scholarship fund in his name, in addition to the technology suite.

During his AUB years, Al-Mutawa became the head of the Kuwaiti Students’ Association, an organization that included all Kuwaiti students in Beirut.

“AUB is a very proud place because of its alumni. What we are celebrating today is the special link between dedicated alumni and their alma mater,” said OSB Dean George Najjar, thanking Al-Mutawa and his family for their continuous support to the University. Addressing Al-Mutawa, he added: “You are one of the major reasons that give this institution the strength and confidence to offer its best to its students.”

Al-Mutawa is the founder, chairman and managing director of Bayan Investment Co. and the chief executive of Ali Abdulwahab, Sons & Co., which ranks among the top trading companies in Kuwait dealing with a diversified range of products having agency representation from some of the world’s foremost manufacturers of consumer goods such as Procter & Gamble, the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche, Bosch, Siemens appliances, Nike of USA, and many others.

Al-Mutawa is also on the board of various foundations such as Kuwait America Foundation, Kuwait Heart Foundation, Mentor and others.