New appointment reflects university’s strategy of driving the readiness for new wave of technological and human-centered progress   

Ras Al Khaimah, August 25, 2025: The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) has appointed Professor Bassam Alameddine, an internationally recognised higher education leader, as its new president.  Professor Alameddine succeeds Dr. David Schmidt. 

Professor Alameddine brings extensive experience to AURAK, having led academic advancements at prestigious universities in the Gulf and across the globe.  Prior to joining AURAK, Professor Alameddine served as President of Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) in Kuwait.  

An accomplished scholar, Professor Alameddine is the Founder and Principal Investigator of the Functional Materials Group, focusing on carbon capture, gas separation, hydrogen storage and environmental remediation, research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. His pioneering work has secured more than $2.5 million in competitive research funding and resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference papers.  

His career spans prestigious institutions including Columbia University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), and the University of Fribourg. He holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Senior Leadership from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. A trilingual communicator in English, French and Arabic, he brings an international perspective to leadership.  

Beyond academia, Professor Alameddine advises organisations in the energy, cosmetics and scientific sectors and serves on multiple advisory and scientific boards. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry,