Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Khalifa University graduate Bashayer Al Hammadi aced her aerospace engineering degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA — and now she's ready to take flight in the UAE's development journey.
"The most valuable lesson I will carry forward is the importance of continuous learning," Al Hammadi told Aletihad during the university's graduation ceremony, held on June 17–18 in Abu Dhabi.
She was among this year's 1,066 graduates from the country's top-ranked university. This cohort included 742 bachelor's degree holders, 91 master's graduates, 193 PhDs, and 40 Doctors of Medicine.
All of them are now primed to enter the field, tackle real-world challenges, and help drive the UAE toward its most ambitious goals.
Throughout her time at university, Al Hammadi had been preparing to "contribute to the UAE's efforts to strengthen its aerospace, defence and advanced technology sectors”.
With the UAE's growth in space and aviation opening doors for young engineers, she urged fellow students to seize every opportunity. "Do not be afraid to challenge yourself or step outside your comfort zone," she said.
It is in pushing those limits that the impossible becomes possible, and Khalifa University has built an environment where such breakthroughs can happen. Dr Muntaser Almansoori, who earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, knows this well. He credited the university's advanced research environment with equipping him to take on complex scientific challenges.
Dr Almansoori's work focused on advancing photovoltaic technologies using 2D materials, with the ultimate aim of accelerating the UAE's renewable energy drive.
"The most valuable lesson I will carry forward is the necessity of curiosity and interdisciplinary innovation," he told Aletihad. "To truly push boundaries, we must step outside our traditional silos and never shy away from seeking new knowledge."
With his PhD behind him, Dr Almansoori now looks ahead to supporting the UAE's march toward Net Zero and its ongoing AI transformation.
Fatema Ali Alhosani, who graduated with a master's degree in Engineering Systems and Management, credited Khalifa University not only for the technical skills she gained but for reshaping how she approaches innovation.
Her years there taught her that "meaningful engineering impact comes from continuous improvement and adaptability”. This foundation, she said, sharpened her ability to apply data-driven thinking and systems engineering to improve reliability, efficiency, and performance in real-world settings.
Buthaina Alzaabi, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, echoed that sentiment. It was her studies, she said, that brought home the value of adaptability and lifelong learning.
"The university had taught me that the world is constantly evolving and thus we need to adapt these new technologies into our lives," she said.
Alzaabi's graduation project explored using solar energy to charge electric vehicles, a fitting launchpad for her next chapter as she sets her sights on contributing to sustainability and renewable energy.
"We need to have the mindset that allows us to want to continuously learn new things and find ways to use these findings to contribute to the UAE's development,” she said.
