I graduated from Abu Dhabi University with a Bachelor of Architecture and a GPA of 3.98 – top of my class. During the winter semester of my senior year, I interned with GHD Engineering. The company was so pleased with my work that they extended the internship until the end of my senior year. After graduation, I was selected for Gensler's six-month Professional Internship Program. Gensler - ranked the top architecture firm globally at that time - was impressed with the quality of my portfolio and my design program capabilities. Had the global pandemic not resulted in a hiring freeze, I would have secured a full-time position with Gensler.
Following this, I decided to pursue a postgraduate program and chose the Master of Construction Management at the University of Kansas, USA, out of multiple offers from UK and USA universities. I am on course to graduate this year (May 2023) with a GPA of 4.0. and the options for my next step are wide open. GLMV Architecture in Kansas City extended my summer internship and offered me a full-time position after graduation. Or I might accept an offer from Kansas State University to study for a Ph.D. in Environmental Design. Abu Dhabi University gave me the skills to succeed in my field, and I am grateful to all the professors and teaching assistants who supported me through my undergraduate and postgraduate journey. I am excited to see what the future holds.
Esraa Abuelrub
Graduate Bachelor of Architecture
My journey at Abu Dhabi University has been nothing short of incredible, and it has played a huge role in shaping who I am today. As a graduate with honors from the Bachelor's program in Mass Communication in 2016, I had the privilege of being a student of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced educators in the field.
The program provided me with a solid foundation in communication theory, and I learned about various forms of media such as print, broadcast, and digital media. This allowed me to pursue my passion for content creation and media, and I was able to start my career as a content creator and presenter.
In 2019, I graduated with a Master's degree in Business Administration with a fellowship from Griffith University, Australia. I owe this achievement to the exceptional education I received at Abu Dhabi University.
ADU gave me a platform to develop my skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. As a member of the Media Youth Council, I had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the media industry, and we developed solutions for various media-related issues in the UAE.
Today, as a content creator and presenter, I owe much of my success to the education, mentorship, and opportunities provided by Abu Dhabi University. I am grateful to the faculty, staff, and fellow students who have supported me throughout my journey.
Shehab Al Hashemi
Mass Communication and MBA Graduate
I was privileged to be taught by an outstanding faculty, providing incredible teaching efforts and support. Without this continuous support and world-class teaching, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the achievements I’ve always dreamed of. I was able to complete my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in three years due to the flexibility and availability of courses, which allowed me to graduate among the first cohort of students in 2014.
The resources available at ADU provided me with the opportunity to explore modern challenges in the field of conditioning monitoring and opened doors to new challenges. I also worked as a teaching assistant while pursuing my master's degree in mechanical engineering.
Thanks to ADU, I had the opportunity to broaden my academic horizons and learn from some of the best minds in the field. I am currently working as a doctoral researcher on the topic "AI-based condition monitoring of electro-hydraulic systems" at Tampere University, Finland.
Abid Abdul Azeez
Mechanical Engineering Graduate
"I aimed to make a positive impact on ADU during my time here."
"Having worked in different sectors for several years, I realized that law was my true passion. After conducting extensive research to find the best institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in law, I found Abu Dhabi University to be impressive with its accreditations and world rankings."
"I am receiving the highest standards of education in my program, with excellent facilities and incredibly knowledgeable and supportive professors. The co-curricular activities at ADU have provided me with opportunities to participate in seminars and conferences, enabling me to apply what I have learned in real-world situations on an ongoing basis."
Salama Al Meraikhi
Graduate of the Bachelor of Law (Arabic)
As an alumna of Abu Dhabi University's Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English) program, I can confidently say that it provided me with the opportunity to learn the best practices in media production for various media platforms. Working with sophisticated equipment such as high-end cameras, lighting, vision mixers, and the audio console in the TV studio was an experience that gave me the confidence to work at both front and back camera in television production. The program helped me discover my true potential and transformed me into someone always ready to accept challenges. My parents were my motivation to succeed; my friends gave me the necessary support; my teachers provided the tools.
Set your goals and make a plan to achieve them!
Nada Ali
Graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (English)
As a current Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at ADU, I can confidently say that the university has provided me with countless opportunities for growth and learning, both academically and personally. The faculty and professors have always been dedicated to ensuring that students receive a quality education, as well as inspiring us to push ourselves to new heights.
The supportive community at ADU has helped me to achieve my goals and aspirations, and I am grateful for the guidance and encouragement I have received from everyone involved. Although I will eventually graduate and move on to new endeavors, I know that the experiences and knowledge I have gained at ADU will stay with me throughout my life.
In short, ADU has had a profound impact on my academic journey and personal development, and I am proud to be a part of this exceptional institution.
Sven Ivak
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Student
ADU was one of the most significant stations in my journey. It provided me with ample opportunities to invest my time and energy in various extracurricular activities such as research, competitions, sports, and volunteering. I used to enjoy spending my time on campus using the available facilities. I am immensely grateful for the professors who acted as mentors and provided me with their knowledge and support, helping me identify my goals and achieve them in my career path. As a graduate in Business Administration, I am delighted that my BBA degree is double accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, which is a distinction only 1% of business schools worldwide have achieved.
Sara Kittaneh
Bachelor of Business Administration Graduate
The professors at ADU encourage you to succeed by nurturing your enthusiasm as well as improving your knowledge in the areas of biology, medicine, and engineering. Their doors are always open, and they deliver the classes in such an enjoyable way.
I have really enjoyed my biomedical courses and learned a lot, including about medical devices and how to design and classify them. Because of this, I feel I will be able to make a real difference in the biomedical engineering field and the health industry in general.
State-of-the-art technology is used in all the labs, providing students with an optimum hands-on learning experience. In fact, the Bioimaging Research Lab is affiliated with the University of Louisville's Bioimaging Lab, making it one-of-a-kind in the UAE.
Huda Tarek Sliman
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
“Prevention is better than cure!”
"I'm currently working in health education focusing on giving lifestyle advice to people with type 2 diabetes. As part of my program, I took an internship with the Department of Health and this experience helped me secure this position with Daman shortly after graduation.
ADU has given me so many opportunities. With the encouragement of my professors, I started the Public Health Club and held the position of Club President for a year. Through the Club, we attended numerous events and conferences related to our field, gaining a lot of practical experience along the way.
I've experienced several proud moments during my time at ADU including being honored in the Dean's List for my high GPA. My high point, however, was being appointed as a UAE Public Health Ambassador through the Health Authority Abu Dhabi's (HAAD) Public Health Ambassador Program. This aims to engage communities in healthy life choices which is, I believe, my vocation in life."
Maram Hijjah
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Graduate
ADU Architecture Students Awarded Prestigious Accolades in 2018
ADU is wrapping up an award-winning year for its Bachelor of Architecture students, who have been proud recipients of several prominent local and international awards during 2018.
Abu Dhabi University (ADU), an internationally recognized academic institution for quality education and applied research, is wrapping up an award-winning year for its Bachelor of Architecture students, who have been proud recipients of several prominent local and international awards during 2018. Among the most recent accolades is the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, which was bestowed upon Maram Kassab and Mariam Ayoub, in recognition of their interactive pavilion entitled ‘Qasa’ed’. Presented under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, this prestigious award is a result of a partnership between New York University and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. Regarded as one of the regional creative industry’s most prestigious awards, it aims to nurture artistic talent in the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking on their award-winning project, Maram Kassab said, “Being at ADU has not only taught us how to excel in our careers but also to love what we do and discover ourselves through it. The generous support from our dedicated faculty, and the solid design foundation we were equipped with, set us up for winning the Christo and Jeanne Claude award 2018. We are incredibly proud to have been recognized for our work, both locally and internationally. It was also an honor to meet Christo Claude personally and have the chance to view his latest work. Best of all, of course, was the chance to build and realize the design for our first pavilion, Qasa’ed.”
The award was presented by Her Excellency Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation and the Founder and Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, in front of dignitaries and the national press.
The Qasa’ed design takes on the shape of a wooden pavilion that imitates sand dunes, showcasing the significance of the desert in the lives of Bedouin people. The project will be showcased at the NYUAD campus on 11 December and will be on public display at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi from 12-21 December. The interactive pavillion will then be transferred to Abu Dhabi University’s main campus where it will be displayed indefinitely.
Over the course of the past year, other students from ADU’s Architecture program have also been lauded for their efforts; translating abstract ideas into award-winning projects.
In October, a conceptual project known as the ‘Abu Dhabi Opera House and Culture’, designed by senior Architecture student Mariam Faisal, was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Cityscape Global 2018 exhibition. Similarly, Architecture student Merna Khaled, who designed the forward-looking architectural concept for the ‘Abu Dhabi Community Center and Plaza’, was one of 40 global winners during the 10+5+X World Architecture Community Awards’ 29th Cycle. The WA awards are highly recognized on a global scale for highlighting remarkable and inspirational contemporary architecture projects that would otherwise go unnoticed by the international public.
Closer to home, 24 Architecture students came together to develop a special interactive event for children with Louvre Abu Dhabi for an initiative called ‘Pop-up Architecture.’ This enabled young participants to experiment with modular shapes and solids and create their own playful spaces. The design concept was arranged by Louvre Abu Dhabi to celebrate the museum’s first year of operation, and was showcased at its premises on Saadiyat Island. The students involved were Abdelmonem Mohamed, Abdulrahman Al Tekreeti, Ayesha Zahid, Diana Enab, Esraa Abu El Rub, Farazat Mirza, Heba Farwati, Leen Aissamy, Najah Majdi, Nouf Turkmani, Sohairah Sohail, Fares Khaddour, Mariam Shaker, Merna Khaled, Sara Ghannam, Shafaq Qamar, Shangeda Nesrin, Wael Marawi, Ayah Darweesh, Diala Yaseen, Majd Al Omari, Mohamad Dibaje, Naheel Barmil, Umer Javid and Waleed Gawish.
In addition, senior Architecture students Esraa Abu El Rub, Leen Al Aissamy, Nouf Turkmani and Mariam Shakir scooped up second place in the Spaghetti Truss Bridge Competition organized by the American University of Sharjah.
ADU’s Architecture program is the first and only program to earn Validation from RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects) in the UAE.