Researchers at two UAE universities are finalising the design of their face masks and shields before large scale production begins in the country.
UAE University in Al Ain and New York University Abu Dhabi will use 3D printing to make PPEs in large numbers and at a lower cost, which in turn will reduce the risk of shortages.
UAE University has developed reusable and disposable versions of a face shield, while NYU Abu Dhabi has designed a hard-wearing face mask, similar to a N95 mask, but one that can be reused.
“The idea is to do it locally, in the UAE," said Ramesh Jagannathan, an NYU Abu Dhabi engineering professor and managing director of StartAD, the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship programme.
"We can not only solve the local problem, we can create a solution for the world and it’s a sustainable solution,” he said.
"Right now, masks are disposable – you wear them and toss them out. Ours is maybe better from sustainability and cost issue. All of our mask is plastic, so it's easily manufactured using injection moulding."
NYU Abu Dhabi began preparing masks in March, working with Mubadala Healthcare and the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, whose medical staff tried on and tested various prototypes.
The mask is made of a soft plastic that touches the face and a more rigid plastic that forms the main structure, with a disposable filter being attached to this.
The main mask, minus its filter, is sterilisable using UV light, heat or chemical treatment.
Dr Oraib Al Ketan, an NYU Abu Dhabi research instrumentation scientist, is fine-tuning the design before production begins at a local company.
No manufacturer has been selected, but Prof Jagannathan said that finding one in the UAE able to produce masks by injection moulding would be easy.
While the price of the mask is not yet determined, it will be “extremely inexpensive” to produce, potentially helping healthcare facilities cut expenses in the long term over disposable N95 masks, which can retail at about $6 (Dh22) each.
We are really proud to be involved in such an initiative and helping those who are in the frontline
UAE University’s Science and Innovation Park is meanwhile planning to start production of its face shields, which will be distributed to businesses in healthcare and other sectors at little more than cost price.
Currently, cheap face shields cost about $4 each (Dh14.7), but some models are many times this amount.
The Science and Innovation Park (SIP) has developed reusable and disposable versions of its face shield, differing in the materials used.
A deal has been reached to supply the face shields to a major UAE healthcare company and agreements are close to being struck with other large organisations.
“We are really proud to be involved in such an initiative because feeling like we are making a contribution and helping those who are in the frontline, who are working day and night to fight against Covid-19, and providing them with the basic PPE, is very important,” said Professor Nihel Chabrak, the SIP’s chief executive.
The basic design comes from a template freely available online but this has been extensively altered and improved through feedback from doctors and other medical staff who tested about 300 face shields in about 10 prototype designs.
“We sent different samples to at least 10 big organisations in the UAE. The material itself was made more comfortable. When you try the face shield for one hour, it’s not the same as when you have it on for one day. The materials we use had to be changed,” said Prof Chabrak.
Early in the prototyping process, it took about six hours to produce each face shield, but the park has since bought additional printing equipment, increasing the daily production capacity to about 500.
Prof Chabrak said the SIP was making the shields partly as a public service but also to bring closer the UAE’s public and private sector.
“Even the ones coming from China we found them to be extremely expensive," she said. "People are really making a lot of money out of this. We’re not really using this initiative to make a profit
“Our purpose is to engage industry. It’s a win-win situation. We need to cover our costs, but at the same time these institutions we’ll be working with will be supporting our entrepreneurs in the future.”
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
