Sultan Qaboos University hosted the 51st meeting of the Executive Council of the Association of Arab Universities on 20 and 21 May. The meeting was chaired by H.E Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bemani, Vice chancellor of SQU and Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Council for this session and H.E Prof. Sultan Abu Orabi Al Adwan, Secretary General of Association of Arab Universities. Heads of 12 Arab universities are attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed the proposals and recommendations concerning the amendment of the basic system of Association. It also discussed the general decision of the conference in the session concerning the scientific societies, and shed light on the proposal of the University of Jerusalem to establish a council for community responsibility.

The university received the delegation on Sunday evening. The first session was chaired by H.E Dr. Ali Al Bemani, Vice chancellor of SQU. This session  reviewed the topics of the meeting's agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting, which was held last April at the Lebanese Islamic University in Beirut. The Executive council then discussed the proposed amendments to the basic system of the Association. At its first meeting, the Executive council intended to finalize the proposed amendments to the system. The Association has formed a specialized committee of a number of university presidents to review the system and to submit its proposals to the Council for review and adoption. The amendments were also sent to all member universities for an opinion and proposals. The meeting also reviewed all sections of the system including the discussion of the proposed amendments of the formed committee or members. The opening session concluded with the end of the discussion of the basic system of the Association.

The presidents of Arab Universities had a tour to the main library, Grand Hall, Omani Studies Center at Sultan Qaboos University Cultural Center.

The Association of Arab Universities is a non-governmental organization that has an independent legal character. Its membership includes 280 Arab Universities at the present. AARU's was established in 1964 upon a resolution issued by the Arab League. Its permanent headquarters has been in Amman, Jordan since 1984.