On January 27, 2017, a ceremony  dedicated to conferring an honorary doctorate on Ali Polad, well-known businessman, educationalist, and philanthropist, for his extensive educational activities, charity work and tireless efforts to promote Azerbaijani culture was held in the Marble Hall of Khazar University.  The ceremony was attended by the university administration, staff members as well as peoples of art and science. Professor Hamlet Isaxanli, the founder of Khazar University and Chairman of its Board of Directors and Trustees, opened the event; he spoke about Ali Polad’s life, creative and other activities. Then a short film about Ali Polad was shown to the ceremony participants.

President Hassan Niknafs announced that the Academic Council of the university had made a decision to award an Honorary Doctorate Degree on behalf of Khazar University to Ali Polad. Prof. Hamlet Isaxanli presented his diploma. He was given a regalia and bouquets.

Solmaz Rustamova-Tohidi, Senior Researcher of the Ziya Bunyadov Oriental Studies Institute of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, made a speech about Ali Polad’s life and creative activities.

At the end of the ceremony, Ali Polad made a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to the university administration.