Here in the UAE we hear so much about the future of my home country - our Rulers' vision and the growth and development it entails.
Less audible are the thoughts and feelings of the young UAE nationals who will help to lead the country's development tomorrow.
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As one of the new wave of UAE-educated technical graduates, I'd like to share my rationale for choosing to be part of the country's knowledge economy ambitions.
Two years ago, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in software engineering. Then, my aim was to gain further skills and begin a successful career. My concern, like that of many young graduates, was that I would only be able to find such an opportunity overseas.
I did not want to have to leave my country to pursue education as was done by so many Emiratis before me. The UAE is my home as it has been the home of my ancestors.
I wanted my own young son to grow up knowing of his heritage and benefiting from the beauty of family and culture.
When I heard of a new research institution being opened in Abu Dhabi, I was curious to see if it truly was offering a world-class educational experience. Would it really help me to become a competitive and professional engineer who could hold my own in local or international companies?
A visit to the campus convinced me this university was focused clearly on training technical professionals in fields that the leadership was developing.
I enrolled in the engineering systems management course because it combined engineering with management - the former being my own intellectual passion, while the latter relates to a great economic need.
With the country's many large and complex development projects, there is a huge need for engineers trained in strategy, operations and systems thinking.
During my master's degree studies I focused my research on the search for ways to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum refineries, an important issue for all petroleum producing economies.
I presented my research at the World Future Energy Summit and made it the focus of my graduate thesis.
Now, having graduated, I am back at the point of assessing what to do next. For me, the answer has been to study further and so I have enrolled for a doctorate at the Masdar Institute.
By learning how to do applied operational research for mathematical optimisation that solves real world problems, one becomes empowered with a tool that can help solve many problems, such as optimal planning and scheduling.
The Government has identified nine pillars of the Emirate's social, political and economic future. Two of them - building a knowledge-based economy and making the most of the UAE's and Abu Dhabi's resources - are directly related to Masdar Institute's focus and my own PhD studies.
With the work that is being done today, I am confident my 2-year-old son will grow up in a UAE with a diversified, knowledge-based economy in which a highly educated population from a mixed background pool their experience and loyalty towards advancing this community.
I also hope he will receive the education and training he needs to join one of the critical industries, where he can accomplish great things without compromising future generations' welfare or his ancestors' legacy.
With each year, I am optimistic that more and more of my Emirati brothers and sisters will join me in advanced technical studies.
I urge them to look closely at what our country has accomplished so far in its brief modern history for inspiration to help to develop the country further.
They should see also they are being given every opportunity to contribute to its future with education, training, internships, placement - anything that can help them reach their own potential.
The future will only be as bright as the minds of today's youth. We must all do our best to give back to the country that gave us so much, and to preserve and build on what Sheikh Zayed started.
Noura Ahmed Sultan Al Dhaheri is among the inaugural graduates from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. She will be pursuing her doctorate at Masdar Institute this autumn
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099