The French ambassador Eric Chevallier awarded yesterday the French Insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters to Sheikh  Dr Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, adviser at the Emiri Diwan,“in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of education.”  
The envoy presided over the ceremony on behalf of France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius and Minister of Culture and Communication Fleur Pellerin. Among the guests were senior Qatari officials, members of the academic and business communities in Doha, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The ambassador praised Dr Abdulla for his “innovative leadership in education in Qatar,” noting that his achievements are “felt well beyond the borders of Qatar and the Arab world.”
Dr Abdulla said, “I am deeply honoured and humbled by this recognition from the Government of France, especially as the role of education and culture in our lives is a critical part of what gives life itself its shape and meaning.”  
The Order of Arts and Letters, which dates back to 1469, is one of France’s oldest and most significant awards.  It is presented to no more than 20 people worldwide each year.  
Dr Abdulla has held senior positions in Qatar’s most important academic institutions, including the Supreme Education Council, Qatar Foundation, and Qatar University. Currently, he is chair of the Executive Board and vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Qatar’s Supreme Education Council and serves as board member and managing director of Qatar Leadership Centre.
From 2004-2015, Dr Abdulla held several positions at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. He served as vice-president for Education from 2005-2015, and was the inaugural president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) from 2010-2015.  
The World Economic Forum named Dr Abdulla a Young Global Leader in 2011 for his regional role in education reform and innovation.  
Dr Abdulla earned his BS in civil engineering from Qatar University, an MS from Colorado State University (US), and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Southampton (UK), and then joined Qatar University as assistant professor in the civil engineering department.

Advisory Council discusses
surge in real estate prices

The Advisory Council held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of Council Speaker HE Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khulaifi.  
The council reviewed a request for general debate on the surge in real estate prices presented by a number of members. The council decided to refer it to the Public Services and Utilities Committee to for further study and a report.