jordan pulse -

Written by: Ahmad Al Anbousi
On 11 January 2026, tenth anniversary marks passing of legendary Dr Ahmad Hourani, “Abu Maher”, founder of Amman Ahliyya University as first private university in Jordan and region, founder of University Schools, and all companies under Hourani Group. Annual rainfall at this time does not only wash buildings, courtyards, trees and flowers of dust and dirt, but also washes obstacles, difficulties, agendas of opportunists and conspirators that clung to journey, allowing caravan to move forward and compass to remain fixed on right direction as he intended.
Family patriarch Dr Maher, supported by brother Omar, mother Um Maher, and sisters Suheir, Inas, Abeer and Reem, all proved worthy custodians of journey, preserving his legacy and magnifying achievements.
Amman Ahliyya University has grown into a giant, competing with leading universities in region and world. University Schools made remarkable progress in excellence and achievement, as did all economic companies under Jordan United Investment Company (Hourani Group).
You fulfilled mission, Abu Maher, and on your path and principles they continue.
Much can be said on your anniversary. You were exceptional in giving and achievement, and those who came after you are exceptional on same path.
Ten years have passed since your departure, yet we remember your wisdom, generosity, noble stances, warm smile, dignity, presence, and your gentle rural expressions. You dealt with people with one face and one colour. You despised hypocrisy, those who say what pleases you in your presence and what pleases others in your absence. You paid no attention to flatterers. You judged people by their work and loyalty, never by hearsay without listening to them. You were just and fair, protective of the loyal, with an unfailing measure to recognise them.
You never punished people by restricting their livelihoods. You were generous and giving, never allowing ability or power to lead to injustice.
You were exceptional in everything: innate intelligence, vision for future, decisions, stances, dealings with employees, workers and public.
Had artificial intelligence existed in your time, it would have paused long before miracle of your blazing innate intelligence that built this educational and economic empire from zero to summit. Your thinking, planning, foresight, tireless work and risk calculations never failed.
You founded first private university despite warnings and claims of risk at the time. With your calculations, you decided and succeeded. Same followed with founding of schools and other ventures: success after success, until journey expanded.
Innate human intelligence created artificial intelligence. AI remains an electronic tool that collects data, analyses and processes it rapidly to produce results. Decisions it offers are not necessarily correct, as it does not account for human emotions, differences between societies, variations in capabilities, or complexities of planning and execution. It is fast programming and analysis, not a substitute for human innate intelligence.
All this planning, analysis, foresight and precise calculation existed in you, Abu Maher. Well done. How truly brilliant you were.
Blessings to your pure soul on your anniversary and every day. Mercy upon you, Abu Maher, and may paradise be your abode, God willing.