MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University hosted Mohamed Rashed Al Hameli, a senior economic adviser with the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 22-23). He is pictured center with Jamal Rashed, NMU College of Business dean, and David Nyberg, director of the Governor's Office for Northern Michigan.

            Al Hameli was invited to Marquette to discuss the possibility of NMU collaborating with United Arab Emirates’ institutions to offer courses and programs in the capital of Abu Dhabi and other UAE locations. NMU President David Haynes will be traveling to Al Hameli’s homeland in the early portion of 2013.

            In addition to time with NMU students, faculty and staff, Al Hameli met with Marquette business and community leaders, and was presented a key to the city by the Marquette City Commission. City administrators also discussed possible sister city opportunities with Al Hameli.

Al Hameli is a board member of the Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre and secretary of the Abu Dhabi Government-Projects Claims Committee of the Executive Council.  He also served as the director general for the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) until May 2011.  He was a project manager with the UAE Offsets Group, raising financing for and overseeing the implementation of different types of strategic projects for the government of Abu Dhabi focusing on the energy and aviation sectors.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities that may be available for NMU programs in Abu Dhabi, and we appreciate Mr. Al Hameli traveling to the Upper Peninsula to learn more about our university,” said Haynes.