Major General Dr. Ahmed Naser Al Raisi is the President of Interpol and a top law enforcement officer in the UAE. Additionally, he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the American University in the Emirates, where he continues to influence educational advancements. Appointed General Inspector of the UAE Ministry of Interior in April 2015, he previously served as General Director of Central Operations for the Abu Dhabi Police. Starting his career in 1986, he held roles such as Director of the Forensic and Science Institute and Director of the IT and Telecom Department.
Dr. Al Raisi holds a Doctorate in Policing, Security and Community Safety from London Metropolitan University, an MBA from Coventry University, a Police Management Diploma from the University of Cambridge, and a BSc in Computer Science from Otterbein College. He has consistently integrated new technologies to improve police services and has prioritized extensive staff training, significantly enhancing the Central Operations Directorate's efficiency.
He has led numerous strategic initiatives, including developing a UN-recognized UAE Search and Rescue team, implementing an IRIS recognition project, and advancing biometrics for disaster victim identification. Dr. Al Raisi has also been pivotal in the national ID card project and the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Police Disasters Victims and Casualty Bureau, linked with Interpol. He promoted emergency preparedness and planned the Emergency Medicine Academy in collaboration with Harvard Medical School.
Founded in 2006, the American University in the Emirates (AUE) is a coeducational undergraduate and graduate degree-granting institution based in the heart of the Dubai International Academic City. The AUE consists of seven distinct colleges and is dedicated to becoming the leading higher educational institution in the region, as well as competing with the very best tertiary education providers worldwide. With state-of-the art infrastructure and equipment, an exceptional faculty of instructors and administrators, and a thriving student body, the AUE provides an integrated pathway for students to become truly global citizens— certain to bring value to any organization in the world.
The College of Engineering and Technology (CET) at American University in the Emirates (AUE) is pleased to invite you to participate in one of the most influential events in Smart City advancements-4th CCIT Smart City Forum 2024 that will take place in AUE on May 29th, 2024, under the slogan ‘Fostering Sustainable Smart Cities Through Innovation’.
The event is bringing people from the Government, Industry and Academia together to discuss the future of smart cities, address the challenges facing their infrastructure, and formulate innovative technological solutions to meet the needs of the increasing urban population worldwide.
Key Objectives
- Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices among policymakers, urban planners, technologists, researchers, and community leaders involved in smart city initiatives.
- Sustainability and Resilience: Advance discussions on how smart city strategies can contribute to environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and equitable economic development, while addressing social and environmental justice concerns.
- Evaluation and Learning: Encourage ongoing evaluation and learning to assess the impact of smart city interventions, identify lessons learned, and refine strategies for continuous improvement and innovation.
- Showcasing Success Stories: Share success stories and case studies of cities that have effectively implemented innovative solutions for sustainability and resilience.
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Opening Session
12:00 – 12:15 PM -
Opening Remarks
Professor Muthanna G Abdul Razzaq
AUE President
American University in the Emirates (AUE) United Arab Emirates -
Keynote Speaker
12:15-12:30 PM -
His Excellency Major General/ Thani Butti Al Shamsi
Director of the Saif bin Zayed Academy for Police and Security Sciences -
Keynote Speaker
12:30-12:45 PM -
Ahmad El Sayed, Ph.D
AI Practice Lead, Google -
Smart Security, Safety and Transportation
12:45-1:30 PM -
Moderator
Lt. Col. Dr. AlShaima Taleb Hussein
Saif bin Zayed Academy for Police and Security Science -
Captain Saoud Abdulaziz Alkhoori
AbuDhabi Police -
Captain Ahmed Abdulla Alaryani
AbuDhabi Police -
Healthcare and Well-being
1:30-2:00 PM -
Moderator
Dr. Mohammad Al Nasar
Assistant Professor- CET/ AUE -
Dr. Atef Bitar
C.E.O, SAAS healthcare investment group -
Dr. Ali Al-Tuckmachy
Healthcare Executive -
Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:00 PM -
Resilience and Disaster Management
3:00-3:30 PM
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Moderator
Dr. Mohammad Al Nasar
Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Technology
American University in the Emirates -
Dr. Ibahim Al Najar
Assistant Professor-CET/ AUE -
Dr. Rami Ahmed
Assistant Professor- CET/ AUE -
Blockchain and Digital Assets
3:30-4:00 PM -
Moderator
Dr. Abedallah Abualkishik
Associate Professor-Computer Science Department Chair-CET/ AUE -
Prof. Asma Salman
Vice President for Research and Dean of College of Business Administration/ AUE -
Prof. Paul Hamilton
Managing Director of Ibtikar -
Human-Centered Cities and Communities (Online)
4:00-4:30 PM -
Moderator
Prof. Laiali Almazaydeh
CET Dean/ AUE -
Mike Barlow
Award-winning author, editor and ghostwriter CT, USA -
Cornelia Levy-Bencheton
Smart cities author, marketing and communications consultant, USA -
Closing Session
4:30-5:00 PM -
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SPEAKERS
Professor Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq
AUE President
American University in the Emirates (AUE)
Excellency Major General/ Thani Butti Al Shamsi
Director of the Saif bin Zayed Academy for Police and Security Sciences
Ahmad El Sayed, Ph.D
AI Practice Lead, Google
Captain Saoud Abdulaziz Alkhoori
Abu Dhabi Police G.H.Q
Captain Ahmed Abdulla AlAryani
Abu Dhabi Police G.H.Q
Dr. Atef Bitar
C.E.O, SAAS Healthcare Investment Group
Dr. Ali Al-Tuckmach
Healthcare Executive
Dr. Ibrahim Alnajjar
Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Technology
American University in the Emirates (AUE)
Dr. Rami Ahmed
Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Technology
American University in the Emirates (AUE)
Prof. Asma Salman
Vice President for Research and Dean of College of Business Administration/ AUE
Prof. Paul Hamilton
Managing Director of Ibtikar
Mike Barlow
Award-winning author, editor and ghostwriter
CT, USA
Cornelia Levy-Bencheton
Smart cities author, marketing and communications consultant, USA
MODERATORS
Lt. Co. Dr. AlShaima Taleb Hussein
Saif bin Zayed Academy for Police and Security Sciences
Dr. Mohammad Al Nasar
Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Technology
Dr. Abedallah Abualkishik
Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Technology
American University in the Emirates
Prof. Laiali Almazaydeh
Professor, Dean of College of Engineering and Technology
American University in the Emirates
“Smart Cities for Smart Living”
A profound academic and a distinguished professional, Prof. Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq completed his Ph.D. in Management Accounting from the University of Manchester (UK). His passion towards bringing educational excellence in the UAE motivated him to establish the American University of the Emirates (AUE) in 2006, where he serves as the President and CEO. His strong belief that the young generation can enter any challenging arena and achieve success if they receive focused attention, an inspiring atmosphere with a bit of extra care and the culture of AUE demonstrates as such. His strong determination led to propose and offer such academic programs that are not available in the region including but not limited to graduate programs in Diplomacy, Security and Strategic Studies, Sports Management, Security and Intelligence, Intellectual Property Rights, Arbitration, Criminal Justice and many more. His recent initiative of Equine Studies Track is a true example of creative leader.
Major General Thani holds a Master's degree in Executive Administration and a Bachelor's degree in Sharia and Law, he further expanded his expertise with a Diploma in HR Diploma from the prestigious London Business School. He certified as a Human Resources Consultant and an EFQM Certified Evaluator, Thani has amassed over three decades of experience in various leadership capacities. Throughout his illustrious career, Thani has been recognized for his outstanding contributions, earning over 226 certificates of appreciation and numerous medals and badges at local, regional, and international levels. He has completed over 35 specialized courses in strategic and leadership development and has been honored with prestigious awards such as the Stevie Award for Best Executive Director of Human Resources and the MOI Award for Commander of the Year in 2014. Notably, Thani was the Gold Award Winner as the Business Leader of the Year at the Business Brilliance Awards 2022. With his wealth of experience and accolades, Thani continues to make impactful strides in the fields of leadership and administration.
Ahmad is the AI Practice Lead at Google Cloud based in Dubai helping clients in the MEA region to transform their businesses with AI. Before joining Google, Ahmad had the privilege to work for leading tech companies (e.g., IBM, SAP, BAE Systems) where he led large-scale data science projects for clients across industries and geographies (Europe, MEA, Asia Pacific). Ahmad is an author and keynote speaker at major Data & AI conferences globally and in the region. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, with specialization in AI & Search. His scientific contributions are published at major international conferences and books.
Captain Saoud Abdulaziz Alkhoori holds a bachelor's degree in political science and criminal justice, earned in December 2015. With a remarkable tenure spanning 14 years within the Abu Dhabi Police force, his expertise as a Criminal Investigator has been instrumental in maintaining law and order in the city. Beginning his journey in January 2016, he served diligently until January 2019, before transitioning to becoming an officer in the Safe City department, where he continues to contribute to the safety and security of Abu Dhabi.
Captain Ahmed Abdulla Alaryani equipped with a bachelor's degree in Police Sciences and Criminal Justice obtained in December 2013, embarked on a distinguished career path within the Abu Dhabi Police force. Over his 14-year tenure, he exhibited exemplary skills as a Criminal Investigator, ensuring justice prevailed in the city. From January 2014 to September 2016, he served in this capacity before transitioning to the Abu Dhabi Police Operations Room until May 2017. Currently, he serves as an officer in the Safe City department, starting from May 2021, leveraging his extensive experience to safeguard the community.
Dr. AlShaima Taleb Hussein a seasoned professional with an illustrious career spanning 22 years within Abu Dhabi Police G.H.Q, boasts an impressive academic background, including a Doctorate in Business Administration and master's Degrees in both Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and Computer Science. Holding various key positions such as Deputy Manager of the Virtual Training Center at Saif Bin Zayed Academy, Head of Knowledge Management Center, and Deputy Manager of Innovation and Future Foresight Department, she has made significant contributions to the advancement of policing and security sciences. Additionally, her authorship of children's books and numerous publications in software engineering, knowledge management, and virtual training underscores her multifaceted expertise and commitment to academic and professional excellence.
Dr. Atef Bitar is the CEO of SAAS Healthcare Investment Group, a prominent figure in the healthcare investment sector. With a background in medicine and a deep understanding of investment strategies, Dr. Bitar brings a unique perspective to the field. His leadership at SAAS Healthcare Investment Group has been instrumental in driving innovative healthcare solutions and fostering strategic investments in the industry. Dr. Bitar's expertise lies in leveraging technology and data analytics to optimize healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes. His visionary approach and commitment to excellence have positioned SAAS Healthcare Investment Group as a leader in the healthcare investment landscape.
Experienced Physician, with vast experience in clinical operations and executive level healthcare management both in the GCC and Europe. Commissioned a total of eleven 60-400 Beds Hospitals and 14 Polyclinics. Strong believer that quality never sleeps, his bread and butter is evidence-based practice. Patient safety & outstanding patient experience is one goal for all our healthcare facilities! Internationally certified medical and clinical educator, with a record of training over 66,400 healthcare providers. Certified and trained in over 106 internationally approved disciplines.
Dr. Mohammad Al Nasar is an Assistant Professor of Information Science at the American University in the Emirates (AUE). He previously held academic positions at Aldar University College, the University of Sharjah, Al Qasimia University, and Jadara University, accumulating over seven years of experience. He served as a research assistant at the National University of Malaysia (UKM), where he earned his PhD in Information Science in 2017. His research interests include Information Retrieval, Artificial Intelligence, and Personal Information Management, focusing on user interaction and system evaluation. He has published 20 research papers, conducted numerous workshops and training sessions, and taught various IT and business-related subjects at international institutions.
Dr. Mohammad Al Nasar is an Assistant Professor of Information Science at the American University in the Emirates (AUE). He previously held academic positions at Aldar University College, the University of Sharjah, Al Qasimia University, and Jadara University, accumulating over seven years of experience. He served as a research assistant at the National University of Malaysia (UKM), where he earned his PhD in Information Science in 2017. His research interests include Information Retrieval, Artificial Intelligence, and Personal Information Management, focusing on user interaction and system evaluation. He has published 20 research papers, conducted numerous workshops and training sessions, and taught various IT and business-related subjects at international institutions.
Prof. Laiali Almazaydeh is the Dean of the College of Computer Information Technology at the American University in the Emirates (AUE). She had a prior appointment as a Dean of the College of Information Technology at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU) in Jordan from January 2020 till July 2023. She received her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering in 2013 from University of Bridgeport, USA.
She has published more than 75 research papers in various international journals and conferences proceedings. Her research interests include human computer interaction and pattern recognition. She received best paper awards in 3 conferences, ASEE 2012, ASEE 2013 and ICUMT 2016. In addition, she received a year of seniority in promotion to the rank of Associate Professor and the rank of Professor due to her excellence in research work. Recently, she has been awarded two postdoc scholarships from European Union Commission and Jordanian-American Fulbright Commission, in addition to two academic mobility scholarships from European Union Commission.
Dr. Rami Ahmad holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Networking and Security Laboratory of the National University of Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia in 2017. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at AUE University, UAE. Moreover, he has participated in the Ubiquitous Sensor Lab Project at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria, which is responsible for the calibration and management of wireless sensor networks in terms of self-management, security and lightweight security technologies. Dr. Rami's current research interests include machine learning, computer and wireless networking, network security, lightweight security technologies, and network sensing. In addition to teaching and research, he has interests in evaluating and writing funded research projects.
Professor Asma Salman is a Blockchain Developer and a Professor of Finance at the American University in the Emirates, (AUE), UAE. An Honorary Global Advisor at Global Academy of Finance & Management USA.
Prof. Asma has been actively engaged in scientific research and has published impactful articles in International Journals & Conferences and has edited Books under her name. Handling editor and board member at Journals of high repute and international bibliography, one of her recent articles on “Bitcoin and Blockchain” has gained wide visibility across the world. Other research interests include, Accounting, International Finance, Blockchain and Digital Currencies.
Paul has been designing, building and leading strategic innovation for over 30 years as a regional and global leader with consultancies including Kearney, Booz Allen, Ogilvy and PA Consulting.
He has also launched a number of innovative businesses himself, including an online language school (2001), a Brazilian craft beer (2004), and a VR events company during the pandemic (2020).
Paul has designed and led innovation work for governments, banks, healthcare and technology companies in the US, Europe and Asia and based in the GCC since 2008.
Ibtikar - one of the first companies in the new AI & Web3 Campus at DIFC - is a specialist strategic innovation advisory and consultancy firm for the next generation digital x physical world. Ibtikar supports senior leaders across MENA to develop innovation capability.
Dr. Abedalla is working as an Associate professor in the American University in the Emirates (AUE) and the department chair of Computer Science. In addition to the academic admin skills, Dr. Abedallah has a deep knowledge in CAA and ABET accreditation.
His research interests include software functional size measurement, software functional measures conversion, cost estimation, empirical software engineering, database, Bigdata, Cloud database, Crowdsourced Databases, wireless sensor networking, Cloud computing. Moreover, he is passionate about cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data, Data Science, and Blockchain.
Mike Barlow is an award-winning journalist and prolific writer. He is the au-thor of Learning to Love Data Science (O’Reilly 2015), and coauthor of Smart Cities Smart Future (Wiley 2019), The Executive’s Guide to En-terprise Social Media Strategy (Wiley 2011), and Partnering with the CIO (Wiley 2007). He has authored and edited numerous articles, re-ports, and white papers on technology subjects including artificial in-telligence, machine learning, advanced data analytics, cybersecurity, software development processes, and digital transformation.
For many years, Mike served as executive news editor at The Stamford Advocate. He also served as business editor for The Stamford Advo-cate and Greenwich Time. His feature stories appeared regularly in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Newsday, and other major US dailies. He has written extensively on data science for O’Reilly Media and other global publishers.
Cornelia Lévy-Bencheton is a smart cities author, marketing and communications consultant and community enthusiast. She is co-author of SMART CITIES, SMART FUTURE: SHOWCASING TOMORROW (Wiley, 2019) and has worked as a technical writer for O’Reilly Media with feature reports on Women in STEM, Fintech, big data, predictive analytics, AI and machine learning.
As President of CLB Strategic Consulting, she works on projects that enrich cities and communities with the galaxy of benefits offered by technology for making life and work easier and more enjoyable. Her prior work client-side in decision support and market research informs her current consulting practice where she leverages data to find strategic solutions to urban and community challenges. A passionate futurist and follower of trailblazer Jane Jacobs, Cornelia believes people are the essence of cities and communities and the source of their real vitality.
Prof. Laiali Almazaydeh is the Dean of the College of Computer Information Technology at the American University in the Emirates (AUE). She had a prior appointment as a Dean of the College of Information Technology at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (AHU) in Jordan from January 2020 till July 2023. She received her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering in 2013 from University of Bridgeport, USA.
She has published more than 75 research papers in various international journals and conferences proceedings. Her research interests include human computer interaction and pattern recognition. She received best paper awards in 3 conferences, ASEE 2012, ASEE 2013 and ICUMT 2016. In addition, she received a year of seniority in promotion to the rank of Associate Professor and the rank of Professor due to her excellence in research work. Recently, she has been awarded two postdoc scholarships from European Union Commission and Jordanian-American Fulbright Commission, in addition to two academic mobility scholarships from European Union Commission.