Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside of oil and gas, has announced the American University in Dubai as winners of its fifth edition of Al Robot, EGA’s competition that challenges students from UAE universities and higher education institutions to design and construct prototype industrial robots for deployment at EGA’s aluminium smelters.

The winning team members from American University in Dubai were Mostafa Aboelnaga, Mohammad Rashwan, Mohammad AlHadi, Yassin Abdelmeguid and Bilal Serieh. They were coached by Dr. Salem Haggag.

In this year’s competition, students were challenged to design and build a robot that can measure the thickness of materials within EGA’s reduction cells, a task that is currently performed manually. Through this challenge, students were able to apply their academic knowledge in the field of robotics and automation to think creatively and develop a practical solution for the aluminium industry.

The American University of Dubai team’s winning entry was called Robot for Anode Cover Thickness (R FACT). It uses artificial intelligence to interpret images.

Five teams were shortlisted and received funding of AED 50,000 each from EGA to design and build their robots, and three teams proceeded to the finals. The other finalist teams were from Heriot-Watt University and Abu Dhabi University.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: "I congratulate the American University in Dubai team for their win. The skills students practice in EGA’s Al Robot competition are important for the UAE’s industrial future and the achievement of Operation 300bn. I hope these students will now be inspired to pursue careers in UAE industry."

EGA’s technology and development team works extensively with universities in both the UAE and internationally, with academic partnerships that include Khalifa University, the American University of Sharjah, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE, as well as the University of Auckland, University of New South Wales, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Through the EGA Ambassador Programme, EGA also collaborates with universities to bridge the gap between academic studies and workplace experience. This initiative is spearheaded by young Emirati engineers and professionals, who demonstrate the practical applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in UAE industry.

With the goal of reaching 45 per cent in-focus Emiratisation, EGA plans to create 500 additional opportunities for UAE Nationals by 2026 to secure talent for the future and provide opportunities for young UAE Nationals in the industrial sector. By the end of 2022, EGA had achieved an in-focus Emiratisation rate of 42 per cent, one of the highest of any major company.