Saeed Al Khazraji's childhood was a time for problem solving and exploration. Today, with a doctorate to his name, the chemical engineer applies those skills on a bigger scale.
ABU DHABI // A passion for breaking ground and a desire to help his country has spurred Dr Saeed Al Khazraji to develop ways to save water.body
Dr Al Khazraji first became interested in invention when he was at school, but only put it into practise while completing his doctoral degree.
“I always enjoyed duplicating some inventions or designs during my school days. I also enjoy fixing things at home whenever possible,” said the 35-year-old.
“But I kind of lost that interest until I started my PhD work when I came up with ways to solve technical problems which were well received in the research group I worked with.
“Additionally, my artistic sense helps me in thinking differently and it pushed me to become a better inventor.”
His most recent invention is a device that collects water from atmospheric moisture.
Dr Al Khazraji named some of his most promising inventions that he devised with a group of undergraduate students, fellow faculty members and researchers at the Petroleum Institute.
The first involved making composites from elemental sulphur.
“The second was about producing water from humidity using smart materials that collect and discharge water without the need for electrical power or human intervention,” he said.
“The third is about a porous sulphide material for oil and gas industry. The fourth is about water production using solar radiation and, finally, the last is about making a diamond foam.” Dr Al Khazraji received financial help from the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee.
Others he has funded himself.
He said every invention has its own tale, and it is usually a “product of curiosity”.
“Every invention has its own story. The how is easier to answer. I always enjoyed analysing things down to their origin. With this technique, I always challenge the science behind many applications and I always end up coming up with things that no one has thought of,” he said.
“As for the why, I can say that some inventions are product of need – like water and sulphur composites – and others are product of pure curiosity with no specific goals or problem that needs an answer.”
He said the inventions are ideas that have to see the light of the day and have to enter the market in one shape or another, which is a challenge for him.
“At the moment, this is the most challenging aspect of inventions. That is, translating the idea into a working prototype to be tested and used in the market,” he said.
“Other challenges are technical in nature because an idea can generate a different set of problems when implemented in reality.”
He said water scarcity solutions are important in the country and any invention to aid the issue “will be critical”.
“The two water producing inventions are important not only to UAE but to other parts of the world. The other inventions have different importance. For example, the sulphur inventions are important in a sense that they help in marketing elemental sulphur which is produced in large quantities in UAE,” he said.
Dr Al Khazraji advised those who have similar ideas and inspiration to “be confident with your ideas, always try to self-assess and follow your convictions”.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
%3Cp%3E%22Whatever%20the%20initial%20intent%2C%20what%20took%20place%20at%20many%20of%20these%20gatherings%20and%20the%3Cbr%3Eway%20in%20which%20they%20developed%20was%20not%20in%20line%20with%20Covid%20guidance%20at%20the%20time.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22Many%20of%20these%20events%20should%20not%20have%20been%20allowed%20to%20happen.%20It%20is%20also%20the%20case%20that%20some%20of%20the%3Cbr%3Emore%20junior%20civil%20servants%20believed%20that%20their%20involvement%20in%20some%20of%20these%20events%20was%20permitted%20given%20the%20attendance%20of%20senior%20leaders.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22The%20senior%20leadership%20at%20the%20centre%2C%20both%20political%20and%20official%2C%20must%20bear%20responsibility%20for%20this%20culture.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20found%20that%20some%20staff%20had%20witnessed%20or%20been%20subjected%20to%20behaviours%20at%20work%20which%20they%20had%20felt%20concerned%20about%20but%20at%20times%20felt%20unable%20to%20raise%20properly.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20was%20made%20aware%20of%20multiple%20examples%20of%20a%20lack%20of%20respect%20and%20poor%20treatment%20of%20security%20and%20cleaning%20staff.%20This%20was%20unacceptable.%22%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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MATCH INFO
Everton v Tottenham, Sunday, 8.30pm (UAE)
Match is live on BeIN Sports
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
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