Dubai, United Arab Emirates,February 21st 2019: American University in the Emirates, the UAE’s leading university offering unique courses, opened doors to its first Innovation lab at the campus located in Dubai Academic city in the presence of Her Excellency Engr Anwaar Al Shimari, Chief Innovation and AI Officer – Ministry of Infrastructure Development. The university aims to play a vital role in securing the UAE’s mission to encourage Innovation and enhancing global competitiveness. The launch was seen attended by officials from Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dr. Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, President of the American University in the Emirates and the respected faculty and students.

This Innovation lab will be the focal point that brings together various college like Business Administration, Law, Mass Communication and more. Not only will it shine light on the opportunities for students to exchange ideas and skills, but it will also promote a space that is known for instilling critical and logical thinking, problem solving techniques and innovative campaigns.

Professor Muthanna Ghani Abdul Razzaq, President of the American University in the UAE, expressed his delight at yet another success: “At American University in the Emirates, we are working together to create a successful and creative generation of students. We encourage and support them in every way possible – emotionally, morally and now physically – by providing spaces which allows them to practice creativity and implement any innovative ideas in their academic projects. Excellence, constructive thoughts and ability to think outside the box all come together in AUE’s Innovation Center.”

Dr. Ahmed Nofal Al Masri, Director of the Research and Innovation Office at the American University in the Emirates said, “We are so happy to finally celebrate this opening of the Innovation lab. The idea is to have a platform that serves our student’s creativity and aids in creating distinguished and unique projects. We are sure that our students will benefit and continue to think outside the box, in both their academic and personal lives.” The university slogan “Nothing is Impossible” spells out the institutes endearing belief in great ideas, dedicated efforts, and creativity. The AUE faculty and leaders have long envisioned an industry and broader community, where students are free and encouraged to think differently.

The opening of the Innovation lab included a robot presentation that welcomed Her Excellency Engr. Anwaar Al Shimari, Chief Innovation and AI Officer – Ministry of Infrastructure Development. This presentation provided an overview on the advancement in technology and artificial intelligence, thus highlighting the biggest achievement in the field of Innovation and development. To add to this, some student work was also displayed that laid the importance of this Center of Innovation. A computer program titled(Criminal Production), was created with the idea to help the police to find the criminals by visually recording and uploading photos on the program to evaluate facial expressions using features like distance between the eyes and nose or scratches that are on the skin. In addition to projects, there were manual displays prepared by a student with the aim of using modern technologies such as Laser Cutter, 3D printing and wood burning machine, which are all used to reduce environmental pollution, a main problem faced in the present era.

American University in the Emirates is also preparing to launch and modify programs from September 2019 that will ensure students have a few extra hours as part of their routine lectures, to enable them to think freely, and open themselves to creativity and enhanced innovation.