Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week (ADBW), which kicked off on Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), is showcasing a remarkable array of homegrown technological innovations in areas ranging from marine exploration to AI safety and clean energy.

Revolutionising Underwater Exploration

In an interview with Aletihad, Mohamed El Hanbaly, a PhD student at Khalifa University (KU) explained how his project on display can help facilitate ocean monitoring and exploration.

“Over 80% of the ocean remains unexplored, and more than 93% of it has yet to be visually mapped,” said El Hanbaly. “This is mainly due to the high costs associated with current AUVs, which can run into the millions of dollars.”

El Hanbaly's solution? A more affordable AUV prototype, designed in-house. 

The goal is to make these devices accessible to more governments and companies, enabling widespread ocean monitoring and exploration.

The H-SURF AUV, equipped with three cameras and fully autonomous, can be deployed for various tasks, from inspecting coral reefs to surveying shipwrecks and pipeline integrity. 


One of its most important functions is enhancing maritime safety by identifying and localising underwater hazards like damaged cables, allowing for targeted human intervention without the need to send divers into dangerous waters.

“We’re aiming to reduce risk and cost while expanding our ability to monitor the ocean,” El Hanbaly explained. 

The team is already collaborating with local entities to explore applications in nature conservation and maritime security, with plans to commercialise the technology.

AI Safety at the Forefront

Meanwhile, at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, Xudong Han, a researcher at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), is leading a startup focused on AI safety. 

His team has developed a system that protects AI agents, such as Siri or other virtual assistants, from malicious attacks. 

The AI-powered solution scans incoming data and identifies potential threats, ensuring that an AI system operates safely and securely.

“For example, hackers might send a risky email that could cause your assistant to forward sensitive data to unauthorised parties. Our system detects these risks and either prevents the action or alerts the user,” Han explained in an interview with Aletihad.


  • The team is already working with global players like OpenAI and Anthropic to integrate their technology into large-scale AI models. 

    Moving forward, Han plans to make this protection service available to everyone, ensuring that as AI becomes more integrated into daily life, it remains secure.

    Harnessing the Power of Nanomaterials

    In the realm of clean energy, Mariam Alqubati, a PhD researcher at KU, is working on an innovative project that could revolutionise hydrogen production, making it more affordable and efficient for large-scale use.

    Her research focuses on the application of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials to improve the efficiency of water electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.


Currently, the process relies on expensive electrocatalysts like platinum, but Alqubati’s work aims to replace these with more affordable, highly efficient 2D materials.

“The challenge is identifying and optimising materials that exhibit excellent catalytic activity towards water splitting reactions and stability under high-temperature conditions using computational tools,” Alqubati told Aletihad.

By using nanomaterials that are one or a few atoms thick, the project aims to develop a scalable, cost-effective method for hydrogen production, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future, she explained.