HRH Prince AbdulAziz bin Ahmed Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of RCSI today.

He was presented with the award on the occasion of a joint meeting of RCSI and the Royal College of Surgeons, England (RCSEng).

The joint Council meeting saw discussions around various aspects of the relationship between the Irish and English Colleges and looked at ways of collaborating more effectively in the future. Topical issues such as the future of the Consultant Grade, Regulation and the Joint RCSI/RCSEng Research Fellowship were also discussed.

The day-long historic meeting, which culminated in the awarding of the Honorary Fellowship, was hosted by RCSI President Prof. Gerald O’Sullivan. The Honorary Fellowship Conferring was attended by HRH Prince Turki bin Ahmed bin AbdulAziz; HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland; Mr. Bernard Ribeiro, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; members of Council of both Colleges and a number of representatives from the Saudi business, health and education communities.

Born on 20 June 1963, HRH Prince AbdulAziz graduated from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1986. A leading humanitarian, he is founder and Chairman of IMPACT – Eastern Mediterranean region, an organisation that is active in the field of Prevention of Blindness, and the Middle East African Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO).

A recipient of a number of honours and awards, in September 2004, HRH Prince Abdul Aziz was awarded the Global Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). He received the Order of the TWO-NILES Medal in November 2005. In recognition of his dedication in the field of prevention of blindness, he was the recipient of the HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum award given by the Emirates Ophthalmic Society in April 2005.

He will be added to the list of Honorary Fellows of RCSI which includes Nelson Mandela; President James Carter; King Abdulla bin Abdullaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai and the late Mother Theresa.

Speaking on receiving the award, HRH Prince AbdulAziz said: “I am extremely honoured to receive this award and I hope that this will further strengthen the relationship that exists between RCSI and Saudi Arabia.”

President of RCSI, Professor Gerald O’Sullivan said: “RCSI is extremely proud of its institutional relationship with Saudi Arabia, which spans over many years. We have been privileged to collaborate in the provision of healthcare education and training to students from Saudi Arabia. HRH Prince AbdulAziz has earned many achievements through dedication, commitment and tireless work and I am delighted to grant him the honour of Honorary Fellowship of RCSI on this historic occasion of this meeting with our sister institution, the Royal College of Surgeons in England.”