UOWD Secures Three Prestigious Dubai RDI Grants, Reinforcing Leadership in AI and Sustainability

Friday, 21 February, 2025

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has achieved a significant milestone by securing three highly competitive research grants under the Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Program. Among over 300 applications submitted by universities throughout Dubai, these projects were selected as part of the top 10 awarded initiatives. Collectively, the grants amount to nearly AED 4.5 million, underscoring UOWD’s prominence in AI, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

These achievements reflect UOWD’s research prowess and dedication to advancing Dubai’s vision of innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Below is an overview of the projects awarded funding:

1. ChatEV – Leveraging Generative AI Towards Achieving the Electric Vehicle-enabled Net Zero Vision in the UAE

• Principal Investigator (PI): Prof May El Barachi (UOWD)
• Co-PIs: Dr Bouziane Brik, Prof Adel Serhani (Sharjah University)
• Collaborators: Eurecom (France), INRS (Canada)

This project harnesses Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to build advanced chatbot solutions for:

• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
• EV Charging Optimization
• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Integration

By enhancing user experience, boosting energy efficiency, and promoting grid integration, ChatEV contributes directly to Dubai’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and its growing aspirations for smart mobility. The initiative is strengthened by international research partnerships, with Eurecom providing expertise in communication systems and data generation through its OpenAir Interface platform, and INRS contributing advanced knowledge in AI pipeline automation and security.

2. Rectenna Designs for Wirelessly Powering IoT Devices in Smart Cities

• PI: Dr Obada Al Khatib (UOWD)
• Co-PIs: Dr Mohamed Fareq Malek, Dr Mohamad Nassereddine (UOWD)
• Collaborators: Dr Faisel Tubbal (UOW), Dr Raad Raad (UOW)

Aiming to revolutionize power solutions for smart cities, this initiative focuses on developing advanced rectennas to harvest ambient Radio Frequency (RF) energy from Wi-Fi and mobile networks. This sustainable approach eliminates the need for traditional batteries by integrating:

• Scalable rectennas with multidirectional reception capability
• AI-driven Power Management Units (PMUs) for efficient energy allocation
• A comprehensive RF power density dataset for Dubai

By enabling uninterrupted operation of IoT sensor nodes without conventional power sources, this research supports Dubai’s smart city vision and contributes to global sustainability goals.

3. Using AI Simulation for Building Trust (Yathiqu/يثق) in AI and AI Literacy

• PI: Dr Zeenath Reza Khan (UOWD)
• Co-PIs: Prof Farhad Oroumchian (UOWD), Dr Patrick Mukala (UOWD), Prof Melodena Stephens, Ing Veronika Krasnican, Professor Eman Aboukhousa, Prof Nadir Kheir, Dr Heba Aboukhousa, Prof Michael Draper, Prof Mario Fernando, Prof Katina Michael, Dr Tomas Foltynek, Dr Usha Jagannathan, Dr Salim Razi, and Dr Shivadas Sivasubramaniam, Eugene Pribytkov , Ivan Puzyrev
• Collaborators: Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, Ajman University, University of Europe, Swansea University (UK), University of Wollongong - Australia, Cannakale Onsekiz Mart University (Turkey), Roehampton University (UK), and Dubai startups W3rlds and Voicee

Focused on healthcare AI adoption, this project addresses critical challenges such as trust, data quality, and regulatory compliance by:

• Developing AI literacy programs
• Creating governance sandbox environments
• Conducting metaverse-based simulations

By leveraging AI-driven simulations, this initiative will enhance public confidence in AI systems and promote responsible AI adoption, aligning with Dubai’s strategic vision for AI innovation. The collaboration spans six countries, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to AI governance and ethical frameworks.

A Remarkable Achievement for UOWD

Securing three of the ten awarded projects in Dubai highlights UOWD’s robust research strengths and its unwavering commitment to fostering technological progress for societal impact. These initiatives closely align with the institution’s strategic vision and reinforce UOWD’s role in shaping AI, sustainability, and smart city solutions for the UAE and beyond. With this milestone, UOWD continues to stand at the forefront of innovation, actively forging industry partnerships locally and internationally to drive meaningful change in the region’s rapidly evolving landscape. This will also have a direct and significant impact on UOWD's AI programs, driving further advancements in research and innovation.