Like many women, Irene Samy Fahim Gabriel found her calling in the world of science at a young age. “My friends and I would compete over who would get the highest grades, and my favourite topics were math and science,” she tells The National. “Also, in my family, I am surrounded by engineers.”
So when a professor told her about the many benefits of recycling waste in 1998 — back when she was still a student — Gabriel was instantly hooked by the idea. “It just felt like an important topic that I needed to pursue,” she says.
Fast-forward to today, and Gabriel is one of 14 Arab women who were recognised by L'Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program.
We have three million tonnes of sugarcane waste that goes unattended in Egypt every year
Irene Samy Fahim Gabriel,
engineer
While the annual awards aren't new, its first physical event in the Middle East took place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai on February 9, and awarded young talent — including two women from the UAE — to honour their discoveries in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the Stem subjects). The ceremony also marked International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11.
To be selected was “heart-warming”, says Gabriel, who has applied for the award five times in the past. “I’m so happy, so proud. This proves that hard work and perseverance pay off.”
So what's her award-winning achievement? It is Gabriel's research on practical ways to turn sugarcane waste — called bagasse — into single-use tableware.
“We have three million tonnes of sugarcane waste that goes unattended in Egypt every year,” she says. “The sugar industry usually produces sugar and then burns or leaves the sugarcane waste. It is sometimes used in paper making, but that industry is also in decline as people prefer gadgets to paper.”
The past few years have also seen the rise of another problem: increase in single-use cutlery. “Especially because of Covid-19, there has been demand for disposable cutlery. The industry needs eco-friendly replacements.”
So Gabriel put two and two together and began treating sugarcane waste pulp with oil and water-resistant chemicals that could then be used as eco-friendly disposable tableware.
The idea of recycling bagasse isn’t unheard of. It’s regarded as an eco-alternative to polystyrene in some other parts of the world. However, its use across the Middle East is still novel. For Gabriel, it meant travelling to paper-making companies in Egypt that used sugarcane waste and acquiring the raw material from them.
We need more women to lead by example. This spreads the message that if there’s passion, you can do whatever you want
Irene Samy Fahim Gabriel
“It was challenging to get the raw material. These companies are part of government entities and I had to ensure they knew this was for research purposes. But after I spoke to them about my project, they found it useful as a replacement to paper-making.”
She also found a way to simplify the process by acquiring liquid pulp directly from the companies, treating it using eco-friendly chemicals, and then using a machine to press it into tableware. “My process decreases water used by 50 per cent and saves five kilowatts of electricity per kilogram of bagasse [compared to traditional practices]. It’s a more circular, sustainable model, which is why I’ve applied for a patent for it,” she says.
If granted, this could be a game-changer. Bagasse-made tableware saves on carbon emission and decreases water and fuel needs. It is durable, able to hold both hot and cold foods, is freezer and microwave-friendly, and is degradable. Finally, because it uses waste material, it’s also 20 per cent cheaper than other alternatives.
“You will essentially be able to get a good quality for a low price,” says Gabriel.
A patent could also catapult her from researcher to entrepreneur, but Gabriel is taking that in her stride, especially because she is promoting the all-important green cause.
“I would love to see this product used as a replacement to Styrofoam. I feel like Egypt, with its geographical proximity to so many countries, could be a market leader with this product. So, I’m definitely working on that, and I also have a partner who specialises in this. It’s my biggest dream and I hope to achieve it in the coming years.”
She hopes her efforts will also encourage more women to enter the field. “It’s not as big a problem these days, but there are still some people who think women are not capable of being in fields like engineering and science,” she says.
According to the latest Unesco Science Report published in June 2021, the number of women in scientific careers is increasing, although it is still at just above 33 per cent worldwide. “We need more women to lead by example,” says Gabriel. “This spreads the message that if there’s passion, you can do whatever you want.”
Other Arab women recognised at L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Award 2022
PhD students:
Arij Yehya, Qatar: For her research on identifying factors that drive the widening of the gender gap in personality traits to further evaluate current and future gender policies.
Halima Alnaqbi, UAE: For her research on enhancing the organ transplantation system to include Arab ethnic groups.
Rachel Njeim, Lebanon: For her research on the contribution of NETosis to the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease.
Sama Hassan Ali Rahmatullah, Iraq: For her research on anti-pollution caused by genetic variation of plants associated with soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Sarah Abdelkader, Egypt: For her research on on-site sustainable methods for agricultural wastewater treatment to be reused in irrigation.
Post-doctorate researchers:
Dr Ghada Dushaq, UAE: For her research on discovering novel materials and structures across photonics to enhance the speed, capacity and accuracy of conventional technologies.
Dr Hend Alqaderi, Kuwait: For her research on the use of oral fluids as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early diagnosis and disease management of Covid-19 and other inflammatory diseases.
Dr Nura Adam Mohamed, Qatar: For her research on developing non-conventional, novel therapeutic tools to prevent the development of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Ingy Ibrahim Abdallah, Egypt: For her research on overcoming receptor mutations in cancer targeted therapy.
Dr Heba Alzaben, Jordan: For her research on the use of thermal remote sensing to monitor ecosystem health.
Dr Hiba N Rajha, Lebanon: For her research on food waste valorisation through incorporation and nanoencapsulation of grape skin polyphenols in various cosmetic products.
Dr Nirmeen Elmadany, Palestine: For her research on targeting immunosuppressive proteins in Glioblastoma Microenvironment for a better tumour response to immunotherapy.
Dr Waad Saftly, Syria: For her research on galaxy evolution through the history of the universe.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eamana%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Farra%20and%20Ziad%20Aboujeb%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERegulator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDFSA%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinancial%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E85%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf-funded%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Teenage%20Mutant%20Ninja%20Turtles%3A%20Shredder's%20Revenge
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETribute%20Games%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dotemu%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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PLAY-OFF%20DRAW
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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