Held under the high patronage of the President of the Lebanese Republic General Joseph Aoun, LAU hosted the Fifth Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Middle East and North Africa Communications Conference (IEEE MENACOMM 2025) on the Byblos campus.

This edition, titled Breaking Boundaries: Pioneering the Next Era of Communication, brought together industry leaders in communication technology, as well as researchers and innovators from universities in Lebanon, the Arab world, Europe and the US who convened for enriching exchanges and technical sessions over three days, from February 20 to February 22, 2025.

Representing General Aoun, Minister for the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadi, who is also an LAU trustee, commended the university and IEEE for hosting this conference in Lebanon. “Its organization,” he said, “not only holds a national significance but also extends to the international stage.”  

Dr. Shehadi declared “the return of hope, with the start of a new chapter in Lebanon,” reiterating his government’s pledge for reform and rescue, “as a cornerstone of state-building, and a necessary step toward steering Lebanon back toward stability and prosperity.”

Speaking about the newly enacted Ministry for Technology and AI, Dr. Shehadi explained that it aims to adopt advanced policies and strategies to create funds and strategic policies that elevate Lebanon’s standing by attracting talent and investments.

At the opening ceremony, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah offered sincere gratitude to the network of universities in Lebanon and the IEEE Lebanon chapter that, through this conference, have formed a major research hub in Lebanon and the region. 

On this note, Dr. Abdallah distinguished between two types of research: the curiosity-based and the user-driven. “I hope that as we develop research while feeding into policymaking, we can continue to invest not only in the user-inspired research but also in research that does not have an immediate utility—the type that can nourish our souls and contribute to culture.” He further stressed that LAU is planning to double down on research with several efforts underway.

LAU Professor and Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the School of Engineering Chadi Abou Rjeily spoke about the advent of a revolution in communication technology.

“From 5G and 6G networks, enabling ultra-fast connectivity, to AI-powered innovations and quantum communications, telecommunication is at the heart of the global transformation,” he said, asserting that companies must navigate a complex landscape, facing significant challenges and transformative opportunities.

As a result, “the exchange of knowledge, ideas and breakthroughs in this field has never been more important,” noted Dr. Abou Rjeily, and as such, the conference “serves as a vital platform for the telecommunications community.”

In a statement, Dean of the School of Engineering Michel Khoury underscored LAU’s commitment to promoting such initiatives. “These events not only provide invaluable networking opportunities and fresh insights but also prepare our students to become adaptable, resourceful, and visionary engineers,” he said.

To that end, IEEE Communication Society (ComSoc) Lebanon Chapter Chair and Professor at the Lebanese University Jacques Demerjian revealed that 130 papers from researchers worldwide were submitted to IEEE MENACOMM 2025 with an acceptance rate of around 44 percent, “ensuring the highest standards of quality and innovation.”

In his speech, IEEE Lebanon Section Chair Nazih Moubayed called for encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration. “Over the years, the IEEE has played a pivotal role in advancing research, promoting education and shaping industry standards, and our local section has been an integral part of this mission, providing mentorship and professional growth to young engineers,” he said.

The conference featured three keynote speakers: Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech Walid Saad, who presented on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)-native wireless systems; Professor at Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi Mérouane Debbah, who spoke about AI-powered networks; and Professor at the University of Haute-Alsace in France Pascal Lorenz, whose lecture delved into next-generation wireless networks.