AFED Secretary General Najib Saab discussed with Dr. Fadlo Khuri, newly inaugurated President of the American University of Beirut (AUB), venues of cooperation. It was agreed that AUB will be AFED principal partner for the 2016 annual report, which will chart a roadmap for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arab countries. As AFED academic member, faculty and researchers from AUB took part in all annual reports on the state of Arab environment produced by AFED since 2008. AUB students have also been active in AFED's Future Environment Leaders Forum (FELF) for the past 7 years, as members and coordinators.

Dr. Khuri, who is the first Arab President of the 150 years old university, was inaugurated on 25 January 2016. He is the16th President. In his inaugural speech he pledged to reinvigorate AUB not only as a regional center of academic excellence, but as a leader in community development.