MBZUAI will showcase AI applications for energy transformation at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting technologies for safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Demonstrations will include intelligent cooling, autonomous inspection robotics, and AI-powered decision support. Sami Haddadin emphasizes AI's role as critical infrastructure, while Ramzi Ben Ouaghren notes its role in enabling a sustainable energy future. Why it matters: This participation underscores the UAE's commitment to leveraging AI for global impact in the energy sector, promoting innovation and technology transfer.
KAUST alumna Shamael Al-Shuhail won the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2018. Al-Shuhail, who graduated from KAUST with a master's degree in electrical engineering in 2015, was recognized for her potential contributions to the oil and gas industry. She currently works as a technology solutions architect at Saudi Aramco, focusing on compressive sensing for ultrasonic imaging in oil and gas wells. Why it matters: This award highlights the role of Saudi universities like KAUST in fostering talent and innovation for the region's critical energy sector.
The KAUST Research Conference on Recovery of Difficult Hydrocarbons, organized by the Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), addressed challenges in the oil and gas industry related to meeting global hydrocarbon demand within environmental and economic constraints. The conference featured 39 presentations and focused on technical solutions for environmentally sound recovery from complex oil and gas fields in the Middle East. Discussions covered topics such as multi-scale heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs, multi-scale imaging fractures, and modeling hydrocarbons. Why it matters: The conference highlights KAUST's role in addressing critical challenges facing hydrocarbon-dependent economies in the region through research and technology development.
The Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) at Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is hosting the GlobalEM 2022 conference in Abu Dhabi. The conference brings together high-power electromagnetics (HPEM) experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in the field. The four-day event includes sessions on IEMI threats, high energy lasers, and HPEM impacts on critical infrastructure. Why it matters: Hosting GlobalEM in the UAE positions Abu Dhabi as a central hub for innovation in electromagnetics and directed energy research.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) will host the GlobalEM high-power electromagnetics conference in Abu Dhabi from November 13–17. The conference, organized by TII’s Directed Energy Research Center (DERC), will feature sessions on sources, antennas, IEMI threats, high energy lasers, and critical infrastructure impacts. GlobalEM brings together experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in electromagnetics. Why it matters: The event strengthens the advanced directed energy domain in the UAE and supports Abu Dhabi's goal of becoming a hub for innovation in mitigating electromagnetic risks.
Researchers from the Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) will present research papers at the 17th Workshop of the International Lithosphere Program Task Force on Sedimentary Basins in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Meixia Geng's study identifies potential geothermal exploration sites in the UAE based on Curie isotherm depths. Dr. Felix Vega's research demonstrates drone-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for subsurface mapping of underground cavities. Why it matters: These studies showcase the UAE's commitment to sustainable development through geothermal energy exploration and advanced subsurface imaging techniques.