His Excellency Ambassador Bernard Savage, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Saudi Arabia, and Mrs. Sonja Cujovic, Slovenian Counselor and Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Slovenia to Egypt (Cairo) visited the American University in Dubai (AUD) and were greeted by Dr. Lance de Masi, AUD's President.

The purpose of this visit to Dubai is to promote Dubai's recent economical and social changes and strengthen its relations with the European Union (EU) and establish contacts with its representatives in the region.

The visit began with a lengthy tour of the AUD campus, which included visits to the University's different departments and schools, library and auditorium, and was followed by a meeting with AUD's President.

During the meeting, Ambassador Savage, Mrs. Cujovic and Dr. de Masi discussed the importance of education both in the region and the EU countries. They also highlighted the importance AUD's collaboration with universities from the EU countries and the possibility of future partnerships and projects. Dr. de Masi commented on the growing trends for international educational exchange stating, "Such exchange isn't simply a luxury. It's a necessity and a strategic imperative for any university cognizant of the importance of intercultural understanding to 21st Century education. Indeed, The American University in Dubai  is one such university."

Later, Ambassador Savage and Mrs. Cujovic met with a group of AUD students from different cultural clubs and leadership programs, with diverse backgrounds, including the President and Vice President of the Student Government Association. The students were given the opportunity to ask a variety of questions about the function on the European Commission and learn more about the Ambassador's perspective on other current and international matters.