Nearly 60 startups supported in 2025, with rising patents and a structured ecosystem advancing technologies across AI, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure

From precision agriculture and autonomous inspection systems to advanced diagnostics and clean energy technologies, startups emerging from Khalifa University’s research and commercialization ecosystem are addressing real-world challenges across sectors. In 2025 alone, the University supported nearly 60 startups, while patent activity continued to grow, reaching 60 filings. What distinguishes this momentum is a structured pathway that moves research from academic validation to market application through the Khalifa Innovation Center and Khalifa University Enterprises Company, enabling technologies to progress beyond the laboratory and into deployment.

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Khalifa University and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have signed an agreement to jointly develop advanced energy system tools that will contribute to the stability and resilience of the UAE’s rapidly decarbonizing energy sector. Together, Khalifa University and EWEC will develop intelligent software modules that enhance critical grid functions and support the integration of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems with energy storage into the power grid. The collaboration will also help develop machine learning–based tools for estimating system inertia and forecasting frequency deviations, accompanied by recommendations to mitigate potential risks to grid stability.

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Researchers at Khalifa University, in collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation’s Dubai Future Labs, have developed a new technology that allows underwater robots to interpret their surroundings in real time. Known as ‘RoboGenAI,’ the system enables robots to detect patterns, notice changes, and understand what those signals mean, while monitoring marine environments, shifting underwater observation from periodic inspections to continuous awareness.

The project has already earned international recognition, winning Best Paper at IEEE MetroSea 2025 in Genova, Italy, and is being prepared for submission to IEEE ICRA 2026 in Vienna.

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Khalifa University Biomedical Engineering undergraduate student Amal Musa Ali Alrebh has been named for the prestigious 2025 UAE Rhodes Scholarship, placing her among an elite group selected students for their outstanding intellect, leadership potential, strong character, and commitment to service.

Alrebh would like to pursue her Master’s in Healthcare Improvement and Evaluation at Oxford University, followed by a Master’s in Medical Physics. She views biomedical engineering as a vehicle for human benevolence and intends to merge advanced medical technologies with culturally tailored health policies to strengthen healthcare delivery across the UAE. Reflecting the values upheld by the UAE National Youth Agenda 2031, her selection underscores Khalifa University’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in science and technology.

Alrebh’s selection as a Rhodes Scholar ��ݮ��Ƶ her role not just as a student, but as a future leader committed to sustainable healthcare solutions. By advancing education and research, she will contribute to expanding the UAE’s growing presence in global innovation networks. Her journey exemplifies Khalifa University’s mission to empower students in making meaningful contributions to society and driving progress in critical sectors.��

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The programme for the inaugural��, taking place on 10 November 2025, has been revealed, with global industry leaders gathering to tackle the sector’s most pressing questions around regulation, integration and scale, alongside the latest advances in��, robotics and smart mobility.

Organised by the����as the opening event of��, which is held under the patronage of��, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs and Chairman of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit will define the next chapter of smart and autonomous mobility. The event will also underscore the emirate’s role as a global testbed where autonomy is moving from pilot initiatives to public benefit across land, sea, air and robotics, as well as industrial applications.

The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week six-day event line-up will begin on 10 November, with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit. At the summit, industry pioneers, policymakers, and investors will convene to take part in high-level dialogues that will define the next chapter of intelligent mobility.

From 10-15 November, RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 will run throughout Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week. Hosted by Khalifa University and held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, RoboCup Asia-Pacific will bring together top international teams to compete in AI-driven autonomous robotics challenges.

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The inaugural Global Hackathon for Sustainable Water Desalination concluded with an awards ceremony during the World Congress 2024 closing luncheon in Abu Dhabi. Organized by ACWA Power in collaboration with IDRA and hosted by the Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) at Khalifa University, the event showcased groundbreaking innovations addressing the global water crisis.��

The hackathon culminated in a full-day ideation session, where participants collaborated to develop new ideas and innovative solutions to advance sustainability in desalination and water reuse. This immersive session fostered creativity, cross-disciplinary thinking, and practical strategies to tackle the challenges of water scarcity on a global scale.��

The Hackathon culminated in the recognition of three standout ideas that demonstrated ingenuity, feasibility, and potential for real-world application.��

1st Place: PureDrop – Portable Photothermal Membrane Desalination System��

This team introduced a portable system using advanced photothermal membrane technology for efficient water desalination.��

Team Members��

• Mr. Ahmad Saud Jawed��
• Mr. Asaad Mohamad Matouk��
• Subject Matter Expert: Dr. Jehad Kharraz��

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Five Khalifa University alumni have been recognized by the UAE English daily Khaleej Times among the ‘UAE’s Most Influential Cybersecurity Leaders 2025’ inaugural list honoring CISOs and security heads, who contribute to secure UAE’s digital infrastructure against growing challenges. These alumni stand as testimony to the knowledge sharing and leadership development that characterize the academic journey at Khalifa University.

These Khalifa University alumni include:

• Spring 2002 Electronics graduate Jasim Fardalla M.A. Al Awadi, Chief ICT Officer (Acting), du (Emirates Telecom),
• Spring 2005 Computer Engineering graduate Waleed Al Mesmari, President – Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE Group,
• Spring 2013 Information Security graduate Eman Abdulghani Al Awadhi, Vice-President, Network and Cyber Security, Expo City Dubai,
• Spring 2014 International & Civil Security graduate His Excellency Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security, UAE Government, and
• Fall 2019 PhD graduate in Engineering, Dr. Ebrahim Hamdan Saif Al Alkeem Alzaabi, currently the National Risk and Policy Director with the Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing.
  

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The Emirati Genome Project, launched in 2020, aims to analyze the genomes – a person’s complete set of genetic material – of as many UAE nationals as possible. As a researcher closely involved with the project, Prof Habiba Al Safar, Dean, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that would “generate a comprehensive reference map of the genetic make-up of the Emirati population.”

More than 600,000 Emiratis have provided blood or cheek swabs so that their genomes can be sequenced, making it “the largest population-based genetic study in the region”. As well as being useful for personalized medicine, the information should be of value in understanding how human migration contributed to the genetic make-up of the Emirati population.

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The Emirati Genome Project, launched in 2020, aims to analyze the genomes – a person’s complete set of genetic material – of as many UAE nationals as possible. As a researcher closely involved with the project, Prof Habiba Al Safar, Dean, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that would “generate a comprehensive reference map of the genetic make-up of the Emirati population.”

More than 600,000 Emiratis have provided blood or cheek swabs so that their genomes can be sequenced, making it “the largest population-based genetic study in the region”. As well as being useful for personalized medicine, the information should be of value in understanding how human migration contributed to the genetic make-up of the Emirati population.

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استضافت جامعة خليفة المؤتمر الدولي التاسع لأمراض ألزهايمر والاضطرابات ذات الصلة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط، خلال الفترة من 18 إلى 20 أبريل 2025، حيث جمعت خلال هذا الحدث بين الخبراء والباحثين المرموقين على مستوى العالم لمواجهة أحد أخطر التحديات الصحية المُلحِة التي يتعرض لها العالم اليوم.

حضر أكثر من 500 مشارك فعاليات المؤتمر وخاضوا مناقشات هامة بشأن انتشار وتشخيص وعلاج أمراض ألزهايمر على مستوى منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا وسلطوا الضوء على الحاجة إلى التعاون بين الثقافات والوعي المُعزَّز بالبحث لمواجهة هذه الأمراض.

Professor Marwan Sabbagh, Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Division at Arizona State University, USA, told Emirates News Agency (WAM) that this conference aims to foster dialogue among leaders, physicians, and scientists to develop new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, a necessary development in addressing the challenges posed by the disease at the regional and global levels.

He added that in its early days, the conference focused on facilitating discussions among specialists. Today, it has evolved to include a deeper understanding of regional issues, ways to integrate modern technology, and the development of new tests and treatments applicable to the Middle East, thus contributing to the spread of benefits to all countries.

He emphasized that the primary goal of the conference is to enhance global scientific and medical cooperation to find effective and innovative solutions to address Alzheimer’s and related disorders, noting that the conference plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Alzheimer’s care in our region. By unifying efforts across disciplines and borders, we are making real progress towards improving patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for their families.

The conference is sponsored by a number of major healthcare entities in the UAE and aims to address the growing challenges associated with dementia disorders through the exchange of expertise and the promotion of cooperation and innovation.
The three-day program includes opening remarks by international experts, specialized keynote sessions, and extensive discussions within working groups.

The sessions focus on the latest scientific developments in the fields of early diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, integrated care models, regulatory frameworks, and related health policies.

The conference addresses the social and economic impact of dementia disorders, explores early awareness programs, and community and cultural support for caregivers, while focusing on sustainable solutions that enhance the ability of health systems to respond to growing challenges.

This conference is a prestigious international platform that brings together researchers, physicians, experts, and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in Alzheimer’s research and propose practical and innovative solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for those affected and supporting their families and caregivers. It also ��ݮ��Ƶ advances in diagnosis and treatment, showcases innovations in healthcare technologies and community services, and discusses national and international policies related to neurological diseases.

The conference represents a significant step forward in the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its position as a global platform for medical innovation and scientific research, and to support international efforts to address the challenges of dementia and associated neurological disorders.

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Khalifa University is among a few major global technology and research institutions that support Open-Telco LLM Benchmarks – a new community launched by mobile industry body GSMA that aims to improve the performance of AI models for telecom-specific applications.

The community is also supported by Hugging Face, and The Linux Foundation, along with a host of telecoms operators, including Deutsche Telekom, LG Uplus, SK Telecom, Turkcell, and telecom vendor Huawei.

The benchmark aims to provide an open-source evaluation framework to assess AI models in the telecom industry.

The framework will focus on real-world performance, and holistic AI assessment. In the UAE, Khalifa University already leads the committee established by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) to expedite adoption of 6G.

This committee also includes manufacturers, and telecom operators, and is expected to facilitate scientific studies, research, and the development of technical standards and specifications for 6G.

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Khalifa University researchers part of a major international collaboration that has identified an ultra-high-energy particle called a neutrino

Khalifa University researchers are integral to a groundbreaking international collaboration that has identified an ultra-high-energy neutrino, a discovery that ��ݮ��Ƶ the UAE’s growing influence in the global space sector. Using data from the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) in the Mediterranean Sea, scientists have detected a neutrino with energy levels 30 times greater than any previously observed, as published in Nature. This discovery opens new avenues for studying the universe and understanding the propagation of ultra-high-energy rays. Khalifa University became a full member of the KM3NeT collaboration in 2021, with Dr. Satyendra Thoudam playing a key role in advancing research in astrophysics. The UAE’s commitment to space exploration is further evidenced by projects like the Hope Mars orbiter, plans to explore the asteroid belt, and aspirations to land an Emirati on the Moon. Emirati PhD student Abdulrahman Alhebsi exemplifies the new wave of talent in this field, engaging in complex data analysis under the guidance of Dr. Thoudam and Dr. Arjen van Vliet. The UAE’s burgeoning interest in space research is mirrored by the expansion of its commercial space sector, aligning with global players like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

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