Abdullah Al-Refai
Abdullah Mubarak Al-Refai (Arabic: الدكتور عبدالله مبارك الرفاعي), (b. 4 Nov. 1937 – d.27 Dec. 2005) Born in Kuwait for a very well known and prestigious family. Al-Refai became President of Gulf University for Science and Technology on 1 December 2003. He is the second president in the first Kuwait private university’s.
Prior to GUST, Al-Refai was the President of the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain, where he left his fingerprint as a founder. And during his very successful eight-year tenure at AGU, the university experienced record fund-raising, enrollment, and endowment growth.
Moreover, Al-Refai was previously appointed as Secretary General in the Kuwait University for 8 years during which he served in the strategic planning and administrative development. As part of Al-Refai's leadership in the Medicine field in Kuwait, he participated in the establishment of Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS) and was one of the founders of the Medicine College in Kuwait. Also, he served as the Consultant to the Minister of Health and had a major role in the foundation of the new strategic planning of the Ministry.
Al-Refai has published articles and researches in a variety of professional publications including: Kuwait Health Data Analysis, journal of Kuwait Medical Association; Kuwait Demography and Economic Data Analysis, journal of Kuwait Medical Association; Skimming The Best of The West, Middle East Journal.
He has also published: Strategic Planning of Health Services in Kuwait 1978; Importance of Science and Technology on Health.
A native of Kuwait, Al-Refai was graduated from College of Medicine (MD) in 1962, and had obtained a Diploma of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in 1967 (DTM & H) from the University of Liverpool. In addition, he was Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians – Ireland (F.R.C.P) and Fellow of The Royal College of Physician & Surgeons – Glasgow, Qua- physicians and F.R.C.P. – Glasgow.
Al-Refai had also made numerous presentations and speeches to organizations in addition to his professional memberships as:
Member of Kuwait Medical Association. Member of Scientific Program Committee of international conference of Medical infomatics "MED INFO 92" - Geneva. Founding member and member of the executive committee of Middle East Society of Medical Education- World Medical Federation. Advisor to the University of UAE on planning & development of New Campus, including the membership of International panel selecting Master Planner. On the personal plan, President Al-Refai was a tender husband and father of three sons (Dhafer, Mubarak and Fawaz).