The University of Utah Office for Global Engagement will honor His Excellency Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC, with its inaugural Global U Alumni Impact Award.

Designed to honor a U graduate who has demonstrated international impact, the award recognizes AlBudaiwi’s extraordinary career in diplomacy, his commitment to global peace and cooperation, andhis profound impact on the international community since graduating from in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications.

The recognition will be bestowed upon AlBudaiwi during the closing dinner of the Gulf States Forum, a one-day event exploring diplomacy, economic diversification, natural resources, and innovation across the Gulf region on September 17, 2026.

A Distinguished Career in Diplomacy

U Chief Alumni Relations Officer Kris Bosman said AlBudaiwi’s contributions to international diplomacy, leadership of one of the most influential regional organizations in the world, and enduring connection to the university all make him worthy of the new award.

“We are excited to bestow the Inaugural Global U Alumni Impact Award upon His Excellency Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi,” Bosman said. “His career is a source of pride for the University of Utah and for the global community, and his achievements serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of students.”

From his earliest service as a Diplomatic Attaché in 1991 to his current role as Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), AlBudaiwi has dedicated over three decades to advancing dialogue, fostering economic stability, and promoting mutual understanding. His diplomatic postings have taken him from Japan, Austria, and South Korea to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union, NATO and, most recently, the United States of America, where he served as Kuwait’s Ambassador prior to assuming leadership of the GCC in February 2023.

He has represented his country and region with great distinction, heading numerous delegations at international conferences, addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues: humanitarian crises in Yemen, Somalia, and Venezuela; disarmament and non-proliferation; and economic cooperation among Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His leadership in these arenas reflects both his diplomatic acumen and his deep personal commitment to advancing international understanding and prosperity.

As the Secretary General of the GCC, Al Budaiwi now leads one of the most significant regional organizations, representing over 60 million people across six nations – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In this capacity, he works at the highest levels of global diplomacy, guiding policy and dialogue on issues of energy, trade, security, and humanitarian assistance. His tenure has already been marked by efforts to strengthen unity among GCC member states, while expanding partnerships with international organizations and governments worldwide.

In 2015, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea named him Best Ambassador, and the year prior he was honored with the Distinguished Patron Award by the Asia Society Korea Center.

A Legacy of Service Rooted in Utah

“AlBudaiwi cites skills honed at the University of Utah – communication, cross-cultural understanding, and strategic leadership – as instrumental to his success and lifelong career. His path from the University of Utah campus to the Secretary General’s office in Riyadh exemplifies the power of a Utah education to prepare graduates for leadership on the global stage,” said Randy McCrillis, Vice Provost for Global Engagement and University Connected Learning.

With a solid grounding in Utah beginning in the late 1980s, AlBudaiwi has never lost sight of the value of education and international exchange. He has consistently championed opportunities for dialogue between nations, recognizing that true progress requires mutual understanding and shared learning.

His life’s work embodies the University of Utah’s mission to “engage locally and globally to promote knowledge, innovation, and service.”

Honoring the U’s International Alumni

The Global U Alumni Impact Dinner is a community celebration of global engagement at the U. The event will be held at the Natural History Museum of Utah and starts with a reception and opportunity to tour the museum’s collections at 6:30, followed by the dinner and awards at 7:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public, but registration is required for all guests. Tickets are $60 ($15 for current UofU students). All proceeds will support the University of Utah International Students Emergency Fund, which provides financial support for unusual and unforeseen emergency expenses for international students.

To register, visit global.utah.edu/gulfstatesforum.

How to Attend the Gulf States Forum

The University of Utah’s Office for Global Engagement and Middle East Center invite the community to attend the Gulf States Forum on Thursday, September 17, 2026, a series of lectures and panels aimed at exploring diplomacy, economic diversification, natural resources, and innovation across the Gulf region. The event will culminate in the Global U Alumni Impact Dinner honoring His Excellency Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.

In addition to the keynote delivered by AlBudaiwi, the Forum will also feature a distinguished panel of University of Utah faculty and academic experts whose research and professional expertise span the Gulf Region and its most pressing challenges. Speakers include:

• Bader Mousa Al-Saif, assistant professor at Kuwait University
• Andrew Leber, assistant professor of Political Science at Tulane University
• Michael Christopher Low, director of the university’s Middle East Center
• Dania Thafer, director of the Gulf International Forum
• Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute at Rice University
• Karen E. Young, senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University

Participants are invited to attend portions of the program or the full day. Except for the awards dinner, all events are free and open to the public; however, space is limited, and registration is required for all events. For full event details and to register, visit global.utah.edu/gulfstatesforum.

About the University of Utah Office for Global Engagement

The University of Utah Office for Global Engagement advances the University’s global mission by fostering international partnerships, supporting student and faculty engagement abroad, welcoming international students and scholars, and creating opportunities that connect the University community to the world.

About the University of Utah Middle East Center

For more than sixty years the University of Utah’s Middle East Center has served as a hub for the scholarly examination of the region. Bringing together than more 30 faculty affiliates from across campus, the Middle East Center facilitates research, teaching, public events, and community outreach. It provides faculty with the resources and intellectual environment to realize cutting-edge research and connect with our scholarly peers from across the nation and the globe. The Center works with the College of Humanities and many partner departments, including World Languages and Cultures, History, and Political Science, to facilitate language learning in Arabic and Persian and an interdisciplinary Middle East BA track within International and Area Studies. The Center also partners with the University of Utah Press to produce a book series, Transregional Middle Easts.

• Rebecca Walsh 801-550-4930 Rebecca.walsh@utah.edu