Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
In a journey fueled by curiosity and a shared love for problem solving, 63-year-old Ehab Hossameldin and his daughter Aisha, 23, are proving that the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong adventure.
At 42 Abu Dhabi, where age and experience take a backseat to innovation and perseverance, the duo are reshaping their careers- and their bond - through the language of code.
Aisha's interest in problem-solving was sparked at an early age, inspired by her father's engineering career.
"My whole life, he was always fixing things and showing me how to solve problems," Aisha recalled in an interview with Aletihad. "My friends at school called me 'Tinkerbell' because I was always fixing their broken pencils and gadgets."
Following in her father's footsteps, Aisha pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at Khalifa University, graduating with honours.
However, her curiosity didn't stop there. Shortly after completing her degree in 2023, Aisha decided to join 42 Abu Dhabi to gain hands-on coding experience.
A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled
For Ehab, coding was always an interest, but career demands in civil engineering and project management kept him from exploring it.
"Since my college years, I loved coding," he shared in an interview with Aletihad. "I studied some languages on my own, but my career path led me elsewhere."
When his daughter Aisha introduced him to 42 Abu Dhabi's unique learning model - where students work collaboratively without teachers or formal classes - Ehab was intrigued.
"At first, I was worried that my age would be an obstacle, but the school told me there were no age limits. So, I went for it and took a few online tests."
Ehab ended up joining the programme in 2024 after passing the rigorous "Piscine" entry challenge while balancing his full-time job as a project controller.
Learning Together, Growing Together
Studying alongside each other has strengthened Ehab and Aisha's father-daughter bond in unexpected ways.
"Because of university and work schedules, we barely had time together before," Aisha explained. "Now we go to 42 together, study and even discuss coding at home."
Ehab also finds the experience enriching, allowing them both to learn new things about each other and from each other.
"I've always known that I'm a hard worker who doesn't give up easily, but through this experience, I'm glad Aisha has come to see that about me too," he said.
"At the same time, I've come to appreciate her problem-solving approach - she generates various ideas, tests them out and ultimately finds the most effective solution."
Both Ehab and Aisha bring their engineering backgrounds into their coding journey, applying analytical and problem-solving skills to programming challenges.
"In project management, you always have to find multiple solutions and pick the best one," Ehab says. "Coding is similar - you optimise your code to make it more efficient."
For other professionals who might feel that it's too late to change careers or learn something new, Ehab says "just go for it".
"It's never too late; expanding your skills and knowledge keeps your mind sharp and active," he added.
Aisha, on the other hand, urges young professionals to stay informed about industry trends.
"AI and technology are leading the world right now. Even if coding isn't your primary career, having programming skills can unlock new opportunities."
Aisha had initially joined 42 Abu Dhabi to learn new skills. "But now, I'm considering shifting to a more programming-based career," she admits.
Ehab, on the other hand, hopes to team up with his daughter to launch a startup, upon his retirement.
