The mission of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Development (OIAD) includes outreach and engagement on behalf of AUD for the purpose of “establishing, strengthening and sustaining relationships with AUD’s external constituencies.” Consistent with this mission, AUD participated as an Official Sponsor in the Annual Horse Races - Season 27 (2019) that took place on January 25, 2019 at Jebel Ali Racecourse under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance of the UAE and Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

On January 22, 2019, Dr. Jihad S. Nader, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Development represented AUD at a press conference chaired by His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. At the races on January 25, 2019, in front of a large number of spectators including many VIPs, Dr. Nader presented the trophies to the winning horse owner, trainer and jockey. On both occasions, Dr. Nader highlighted AUD’s emphasis on engagement in society and its role in instilling cultural awareness, national pride and appreciation of Arab history, tradition and heritage. Citing verses from various Arabic poems, Dr. Nader pointed out the great significance of chivalry and equestrianism in the imagery of Arabic poetry going back to the dawn of history, and its prominence as a defining element of Arab culture and identity that must not be lost but must continue to be recognized and embraced proudly by the new generations.