Al Ain University (AAU) and BHM Capital, leading UAE financial services company, inaugurated a virtual trading room at the university, with the aim of refining students’ skills and developing their cognitive abilities in the fields of investment, trading, and financial markets. The creation of the virtual trading room forms part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties last month.

Dr. Noor El Deen Atatreh, AAU Chancellor, and Abdel Hadi Al Sa’di, CEO of BHM Capital, cut the ribbon to the virtual trading room at Al Ain University’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of several university professors and students.

Commenting on the launch of the virtual trading room, Atatreh at Al Ain University said: “We are pleased with the opening of the virtual trading platform, as this project is a breakthrough from other projects in the field of financial market, which includes legal areas, corporate governance and others. Also, it will be the gateway for students and faculty members to enhance the research fields. It is also an opportunity to increase the source of income for faculty members. It is evidence of the university’s commitment and keenness to provide all capabilities that qualify business leaders for the future”.

On his part, Al Sa’di said: “The virtual trading room forms part of a greater collaboration with Al Ain University. The aim is to enhance students’ efforts in conducting applied scientific research that deals with contemporary issues in the business world while also providing students hoping to enter the financial, trading and investment fields with a skillset that will afford them good job opportunities after graduation.”

Given the role of practical experience in capacity development, he pointed to the importance of cooperation between academic institutions and private companies in training students and enabling them to experience the reality of working at institutions and companies in the future, especially considering the growing importance of capital markets in the economies of developed countries.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, BHM Capital organized a lecture to introduce the legislative regulations of the financial market, the basics of financial analysis and research, as well as modern financial concepts, to students. The lecture, which forms part of AAU’s Training in Capital Markets program, was presented by Ma’an Al Bostami, Chief Operating Officer at BHM Capital, and Hatem Al Atabani, the company’s Regional Director – Equities.

The lecture highlighted several issues that play a role in the ever-evolving financial landscape, with a special focus on the framework of market regulations, basics of market analysis and research, market manipulation and criminal behavior, and modern financial concepts. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions, with the lively and interactive session that ensued reflecting their interest.

The virtual trading room forms part of recent MoU between AAU and BHM Capital, which will not only see the provision of software and equipment to train students on investment and stock market operations, but which will also result in the parties carrying out joint research projects, exchanging data and information, and cooperating on educational activities and social events.