ABU DHABI // The number of Emiratis studying nuclear technology at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic has risen almost fourfold since last year.
Sixty-five students will graduate next month, up from 17 last year.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) will hire 63 of them over the next three years.
Naser Al Shehhi, a 21-year-old student from Ras Al Khaimah, said his parents urged him to pursue a career in nuclear technology.
“The programme is great because you learn practicality, not just theory,” he said. “Many people believe that the day will come when we will run out of oil and, because of the oil crisis right now, we are suffering a bit on the budget side, so diverting the energy production from oil is key.”
Mr Al Shehhi and his classmates spent nine months interning at a nuclear power plant in South Korea.
“The training we got there was excellent,” he said. “I plan on working in radiation protection with Enec when I graduate.”
Khalifa Al Zaabi, a 21-year-old student from Abu Dhabi, said he planned to continue his studies in radiation protection in Canada or the United States after working with Enec.
“Everyone is talking about nuclear and how interesting it is,” he said.
“Nuclear technology is important because oil won’t last forever. I think it’ll be a good thing for the country to find a new way to produce energy.”
The students’ work with Enec will involve monitoring radiation levels and using Geiger counters to check plant workers’ exposure to radiation.
“We are opening a nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, so it’s nice to be one of the leaders, as we have never experienced nuclear engineering here,” said 21-year-old Ali Al Kaabi from Fujairah.
“The nuclear power plant will produce about 25 per cent of the UAE’s energy needs … and it will not increase pollution. So it’s more environmentally-friendly, cleaner and safer,” he said.
Although Abu Dhabi Polytechnic aimed to enrol 120 students in its nuclear technology course, Dr Anthony Hechanova, its head of advanced energy engineering technology, said he was satisfied with the number of students.
“We had a rather ambitious plan but I’m happy with the 65 [students], as the original target wasn’t realistic because we would have had to admit a lot more students than we did,” he said.
Dr Hechanova said “there was not enough awareness” of the subject, resulting in the low enrolment number.
Ninety per cent of the students from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic’s first nuclear engineering class came from its high schools including the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT).
“We did a lot of recruitment since and our current intake of students come from other institutions now,” Dr Hechanova said. “Only a third comes from IAT, which is a big switch because it means we are beginning to be recognised and to build a reputation.
Dr Hechanova said about half of the students in the course came from Abu Dhabi.
“We will target and have a preference for students from Abu Dhabi because the nuclear power plant is located there, so people will be closer to home for their career,” he said.
Dr Hechanova said he expected 60 students to graduate every year from the nuclear engineering course. “Now that we have a pretty strong reputation we’re getting very close to our target,” he said. “We have a full faculty and we’re looking for a few more lab engineers and teaching assistants. The interest of nuclear power is still strong among Emiratis.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The view from The National
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
