Abdulaziz “Aziz” Jadallah was searching for the right university to pursue his studies when he came across photos of Stetson University on a friend’s social media page. The images of palm trees instantly caught his attention.

“Palms have been my thing since I was a kid,” he says.

After looking up Stetson, he was immediately drawn to its beauty, strong academic reputation, and welcoming atmosphere. “I saw how beautiful the campus is, and it has a great ranking. It’s a fabulous college,” the Saudi alumnus recalled.

The Admissions team responded quickly and warmly, and the university’s location — close to Daytona Beach, Orlando and within reach of Tampa — made the decision even easier. He enrolled, unaware that this choice would help shape the next chapter of his professional life.

Today, Jadallah is a marketing specialist at one of Saudi Arabia’s oldest and largest companies, Kabbani Construction Group (KCG), a key contributor to the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation under Saudi Vision 2030. Reflecting on his academic journey, he credits Stetson for preparing him with the global perspective, communication skills, and confidence needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving Saudi market.

He remembers his professors as “absolutely amazing” and recalls extraordinary opportunities on campus. A standout memory was serving on the welcoming team in January 2020 for the visit of Major General Dr. Ali Al-Duaij, Director General of King Fahd Security College. Jadallah was honored to join him, Stetson’s president, and university leadership for lunch, where he received the symbolic King Fahd Security College medal for assisting more than 60 Saudi students who had transferred to Stetson from KFSC — a moment he describes as one of deep pride.

Another enriching experience was meeting students from around the world. “I made sure I engaged with as many nationalities as I could,” says Jadallah, who graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government and a minor in International Studies. These conversations about cultures, perspectives, traditions, and languages broadened his worldview. To this day, he remains connected with friends across the U.S., South America, Europe, and Asia.

With these global experiences, Jadallah now works at Kabbani Construction Group — a company deeply involved in projects shaping the future of Saudi Arabia. Vision 2030 has launched one of the world’s largest development waves, transforming sectors such as construction, tourism, infrastructure, sustainability, technology, and entertainment. From giga-projects like NEOM, The Line, and the Red Sea Project, to large-scale infrastructure, housing, and urban improvement initiatives, the Kingdom is experiencing unprecedented growth.

As part of this national movement, Kabbani Construction Group plays a vital role — directly and indirectly — in supporting Vision 2030 through diversified projects across its 24 companies. KCG contributes to enhancing urban infrastructure, elevating building standards, supporting major national developments, and enabling the expansion of industrial, commercial, and residential projects across the Kingdom. The company’s longstanding reputation, technical expertise, and nationwide presence position it as a key partner in delivering the physical foundations of Vision 2030.

For Jadallah, being part of KCG during such a historic moment feels meaningful. “My communication and people skills help me contribute to projects that support Saudi Vision 2030,” he says. “The country is changing socially and economically. No one is sleeping here. You rest for an hour then you get back to work and you keep working.”

Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome the world, especially with the FIFA World Cup 2034 on the horizon, bringing global attention to the Kingdom’s new destinations, entertainment hubs, and world-class resorts. “We will have people from all over the world visiting,” he says. “I can’t wait for my friends to come see Saudi Arabia and experience our culture.”

Jadallah is one of many Saudi students who have studied at Stetson in areas, such as cybersecurity, business, marketing, finance and environmental sciences. Stetson is recognized as one of the Best Colleges in America by The Wall Street Journal, while Stetson College of Law ranks No. 1 for Trial Advocacy and No. 3 for Legal Writing by U.S. News & World Report.

“When I came back to Saudi Arabia, I didn’t struggle,” he explains. His first role began as an internship at a project management company, which quickly turned into a full-time position thanks to the skills he developed at Stetson. “These skills would not have been part of my personality without Stetson,” he says.

Stetson offers more than 100 areas of study for those seeking bachelor’s degrees, including health sciences, computer science, environmental science, music, and digital arts, as well as graduate degrees in business, accounting, and other fields.

Founded in 1883 and named after its benefactor, renowned hatmaker John B. Stetson, the university has evolved into a diverse and inclusive institution that supports students from around the world. As a Muslim student, Jadallah said he always felt welcomed. With international students from 56 countries and cultural organizations, such as the Middle Eastern and North African Association, Stetson fostered a sense of belonging.

“I really want to take this opportunity to thank Stetson,” Jadallah said. “I loved the school. Go Hatters!”

-Stetson Today