Mohammed Abdulrahman AlNamazi (Ph.D. '17) is the acting director general and director of research and consulting at the Desalination Technologies Research Institute (DTRI). He chose KAUST for his Ph.D. due to the collaboration between SWCC and KAUST's Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC). AlNamazi highlights KAUST's environment, infrastructure, and faculty as key strengths, noting the impact on his research and network. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing local talent in critical sectors like desalination, aligning with Saudi Arabia's focus on sustainable technologies.
MBZUAI's inaugural class included eight Emirati master's graduates in computer vision and machine learning, making up 15% of the Class of 2022. All eight have secured employment or will pursue Ph.D. studies at MBZUAI, contributing to healthcare, technology, energy, transport, and government sectors in the UAE. Fatima Albreiki and Wafa Al Ghallabi will continue at MBZUAI for Ph.D. studies in Computer Vision. Why it matters: MBZUAI is nurturing local AI talent to support the UAE's national strategy and address global challenges in key sectors.
A team from the Cryptography Research Center (CRC) secured 6th place out of 210 teams in the 'Donjon CTF 2021: Capture the Fortress' cybersecurity competition. The competition featured jeopardy-style challenges covering cryptography, reverse engineering, and hardware security. The CRC team participated to improve visibility and assess team capabilities, particularly in hardware security. Why it matters: The CRC team's strong performance highlights the growing cybersecurity expertise in the UAE and its attractiveness for talent in this field.
MBZUAI student Ahmed AlShamsi and his team won the Gulf Hackathon for Cybersecurity in Oman for their Secure+ platform. Secure+ uses AI to detect phishing links, identify the source, and provide users with statistics about malicious emails. The platform allows users to browse links safely on the Secure+ server. Why it matters: The award highlights the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem around cybersecurity and AI in the GCC, fostered by initiatives like CyberE71 and guidance from leaders like Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti.
The UAE National Experts Program (NEP) has received over 1,000 applications for its artificial intelligence track. The NEP aims to cultivate and prepare UAE national experts across various strategic sectors. The AI track focuses on developing expertise in AI to support the UAE's national AI strategy. Why it matters: This high application rate signals strong interest in AI among UAE nationals, crucial for advancing the UAE's AI ambitions and digital transformation.