A pair of enterprising UAE teenagers are aiming to build a fleet of cutting-edge robots and drones to catch out Covid-19 rule-breakers failing to wear masks in public places.
Louai Allani, 18, and Mohamed Yalouh, 15, are the co-founders of Waind, a pupil-led research and development project to create artificial intelligence-based solutions to combat the pandemic.
The duo have dedicated their free time outside of their school studies to drive forward the bold initiative in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Now they need crucial backing from universities and authorities to turn their dreams into a reality - as well as the support of another like-minded youngster with a passion for advancing technology.
Mr Allani and Mohamed have already made a 3D model of the robot but require additional help to produce the robots and carry out further experiments.
"We need support from universities as we require space and facilities for conducting experiments," said Mr Allani, a Tunisian 12th grader at Lycée Français International de Dubai.
"We also need help from universities to get permits for experiments like flying drones or robot simulations."
The pupils do not have a permit to fly drones and using aerial units is part of their plan should they get required approvals.
"We are in the middle of a pandemic and want to make the community safer and healthier," said Mr Allani.
"This was the best project for us to start with as we are working on solutions to the current pandemic and our invention could help decrease the number of cases."
Waind is currently developing robots that can detect people who are not wearing face coverings or complying with social distancing regulations.
The robots will be equipped with sterilising technology, while drones could be used for a variety of other purposes such as fire control and delivering first aid.
Police in Dubai and Sharjah deployed drones equipped with loudspeakers and cameras to ensure members of the public complied with safety measures in the early stages of the pandemic.
"We are hoping to to partner with the government to better the artificial intelligence technology and propose new solutions," said Mr Allani.
The school pupils are currently looking for another UAE-based pupil with a passion for technology to become a third founder-member.
The ambitious pair started Waind while studying remotely during the pandemic, in an effort to get youth involved in artificial intelligence-based projects.
Mohamed Yalouh, a Moroccan grade 11 pupil at The American Community School of Abu Dhabi, said they started work on the project outside of school hours roughly two months ago.
"We have conceptualised a robot that will have the technology to detect non-mask activity," said Mohamed.
"It uses sensors, trackers, machine learning and computer vision.
"We hope to get recognition and support from authorities who can help us put the technology in place."
Waind stands for water, air, and, land as the pupils intend to explore various elements.
The pupils want to first use the robots that will check for mask use and social distancing in community and residential areas, and then move to public transport and public areas.
"Inspired by some of the global challenges that we see today and our own experiences during the pandemic, we aim to build a research and development network of pupils worldwide to explore and develop new artificial intelligence innovations," said Mohamed.
Those interested in supporting the venture and finding out more information, can visit the Waind website.
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Barcelona 4 (Suarez 27', Vidal 32', Dembele 35', Messi 78')
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Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
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Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
