Latest news with #Nafaa
Gulf Today
06-05-2025
- Science
- Gulf Today
Sultan Bin Ahmed appoints top officials at University of Sharjah
Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UOS), has issued a decision regarding the appointment of a Chancellor for the UoS. According to the decision, Professor Dr Issam Al Din Ibrahim Ajami is appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and a member of the University's Board of Trustees. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed also issued a decision appointing Professor Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi as an adviser to the President of the University of Sharjah. According to the decision, Professor Hamid Majoul Al Nuaimi is appointed as the adviser to the President of the University of Sharjah, a member of the University's Board of Trustees, and the Director of the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology. Meanwhile, the University of Sharjah, through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, organised a scientific symposium titled 'AI and Digital Twin for Energy Applications,' in collaboration with the Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA). The symposium aimed to highlight the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technology, emphasising their role in enhancing energy efficiency and improving institutional services. The event was attended by Prof Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, along with several research center directors, faculty members, students, and representatives from various SEWA departments. The symposium opened with speeches from distinguished representatives of UoS and SEWA. Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, highlighted the strong collaboration between UoS and SEWA across various research fields, emphasising its role in advancing innovation and sustainability. Prof Abdul Ghani Olabi, Director of the Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Center, underscored the University's commitment to impactful research in energy applications. Ahmed Aylan Alshamsi, Sustainability Engineer at SEWA, spoke on SEWA's efforts to leverage advanced technologies like AI and digital twins to enhance energy efficiency and services. During the symposium, Prof. Abbes Amira, Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics at the University of Sharjah, delivered a presentation titled 'Driving Energy Efficiency and Smarter User Behavior with AIoT: AI and Energy Applications.' He addressed technologies and local initiatives involving AI applications across various organisations. Khalid Diab, Customer Service Operations Consultant at SEWA, presented 'Nafaa,' SEWA's AI-powered virtual assistant, which provides fully automated customer support and promptly addresses user needs, ensuring seamless and effective service delivery. Dr Concetta Semeraro from the College of Engineering at UoS discussed the use of digital twin technology for energy applications. The event also featured a panel discussion titled 'The Journey of SEWA's Digital Transformation & Using AI in the Service,' chaired by Prof Fatih Kurugollu, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and Data Analytics Research Center at UoS. Experts from SEWA and UoS, including Khalid Diab, Anand Subramanian, Prof. Huseyin Seker, and Prof. Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, discussed SEWA's practical deployment of AI to enhance customer service and achieve key business goals. The panel also addressed critical success factors for implementing AI, the risks associated with its use, and strategies to mitigate them. Additionally, they emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation and explored future developments in AI. In addition, the symposium featured a project exhibition and competition showcasing innovative student work in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and energy applications. The event concluded with the announcement of the winners, including Students Omar Al Attar, Idriss Taleb, and Ali Ahmad, whose project titled 'Live Analysis RAG AI Chatbot System for DCMD (Direct Contact Membrane Distillation) Process' stood out for its innovation and technical excellence. The project was supervised by Dr Muhammad Tawalbeh. WAM
Sharjah 24
05-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
UOS organises symposium on digital twin applications in energy
The symposium opened with speeches from distinguished representatives of UOS and SEWA. Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, highlighted the strong collaboration between UOS and SEWA across various research fields, emphasizing its role in advancing innovation and sustainability. Prof. Abdul Ghani Olabi, Director of the Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Center, underscored the University's commitment to impactful research in energy applications. Eng. Ahmed Aylan Alshamsi, Sustainability Engineer at SEWA, spoke on SEWA's efforts to leverage advanced technologies like AI and digital twins to enhance energy efficiency and services. During the symposium, Prof. Abbes Amira, Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics at the University of Sharjah, delivered a presentation titled 'Driving Energy Efficiency and Smarter User Behavior with AIoT: AI and Energy Applications.' He addressed technologies and local initiatives involving AI applications across various organizations. Mr. Khalid Diab, Customer Service Operations Consultant at SEWA, presented 'Nafaa,' SEWA's AI-powered virtual assistant, which provides fully automated customer support and promptly addresses user needs, ensuring seamless and effective service delivery. Dr. Concetta Semeraro from the College of Engineering at UOS discussed the use of digital twin technology for energy applications. The event also featured a panel discussion titled 'The Journey of SEWA's Digital Transformation & Using AI in the Service,' chaired by Prof. Fatih Kurugollu, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and Data Analytics Research Center at UOS. Experts from SEWA and UOS, including Mr. Khalid Diab, Mr. Anand Subramanian, Prof. Huseyin Seker, and Prof. Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, discussed SEWA's practical deployment of AI to enhance customer service and achieve key business goals. The panel also addressed critical success factors for implementing AI, the risks associated with its use, and strategies to mitigate them. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation and explored future developments in AI. In addition, the symposium featured a project exhibition and competition showcasing innovative student work in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and energy applications. The event concluded with the announcement of the winners, including Students Omar Al Attar, Idriss Taleb, and Ali Ahmad, whose project titled "Live Analysis RAG AI Chatbot System for DCMD (Direct Contact Membrane Distillation) Process" stood out for its innovation and technical excellence. The project was supervised by Dr. Muhammad Tawalbeh. The winners were also awarded a 3-month internship opportunity at SEWA, providing them with valuable hands-on experience.
Sharjah 24
24-04-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
SEWA showcases digital transformation in the Netherlands
Developing effective digital channels Dr Hussein Al Askar, Director of SEWA's Customer Service Department, highlighted in his keynote address that the Authority has achieved notable success in boosting customer satisfaction and minimizing the need for in-person visits to service centers. This progress stems from the Authority's investment in effective digital platforms—chief among them the SEWA smart application, which boasts a user rating above 4.5 stars, one of the highest in the regional utilities sector. Virtual assistant "Nafaa" Al Askar also showcased 'Nafaa,' SEWA's AI-powered virtual assistant. The smart assistant delivers fully automated, 24/7 customer support, addressing over 90% of user needs with performance levels rivaling those of human representatives. "Nafaa" is deeply integrated with SEWGA's systems, underscoring the Authority's commitment to leveraging advanced technology. Integration with Sharjah Digital Initiative In his presentation, Al Askar underscored SEWA's collaboration with the broader Sharjah Digital Initiative. By integrating with entities such as Sharjah Municipality, the Emirates Identity and Citizenship Authority (EIDA), and the Department of Economic Development, SEWA has helped streamline public services. This interconnectivity has simplified administrative procedures and accelerated the completion of customer transactions, reducing the need for visits to multiple departments. International recognition and praise The Authority's digital transformation efforts drew praise from conference attendees, who regarded SEWGA's model as both inspiring and replicable—particularly in its automation and innovation strategies. Al Askar concluded by noting SEWA's continued push for digital excellence, citing its recent achievement: the Best Digital Transformation in Customer Service Award, presented at the Government Innovation Festival in Singapore, as a testament to its leadership in the sector.
Axios
14-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Meet the chef behind Houston's ZOA
Meet Youssef Nafaa, chef and founder of Houston-based Moroccan eatery ZOA. Dig in: After about 35 years of being a chef, Nafaa, who is from Morocco, still "creates the recipes and sets the standards — I have the pounds to prove it, I taste everything," he says. Catch up quick: As CEO of Bella Restaurants Group, Nafaa is also the founder of Italian restaurant Mia Bella, creperie Coco and tapas spot Mi Luna. ZOA, which opened in 2020, is named for Nafaa's three sons: Zack, Omar and Adam. We talked to Nafaa all about what makes ZOA a Houston favorite. Why did you start ZOA? I was thinking about the concept of a fast-casual Moroccan restaurant 13 years ago. I wanted to make it simple: Anything that we make is fresh, nothing is out of a can or package. We only use olive or avocado oil, no preservatives. And I was keeping in mind myself — who has sensitivity to many foods — when I was making the menu. How do you build trust with your customers? For me, I take things to heart. Our food is very [reasonably-priced] but it's fresh. When you have our bowl, I promise you you'll come back. How do customers find ZOA? Our reviews are amazing. It's word of mouth and social media. What advice do you have for aspiring small food business owners? If you don't enjoy it, don't get into it. You have to have the passion, the desire to serve. Once you think about making money, that's when you lose. What's next: The first ZOA location opened in 2020, and Nafaa is preparing to open a fourth location close to Memorial City Mall this fall. After that: Nafaa's lawyer son, Aaron, is looking to launch ZOA in cities including D.C. and Dallas.
Sharjah 24
19-02-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
SEWA participates in UAE Innovates 2025
Key projects focused on efficiency and smart services SEWA's projects focus on enhancing electricity, gas, and digital services across the emirate. These include advancements in smart lighting, energy infrastructure, and digital solutions to improve customer experiences and sustainability. Palm Oasis Smart Lighting and Virtual Assistant "Nafaa" One highlight is the Palm Oasis project, featuring 251 smart lights that use environmentally friendly technology to enhance public spaces. Additionally, the "Nafaa" virtual assistant, an AI-powered system, offers 24/7 customer support, improving service speed and user satisfaction. "Amlaki" Platform and Virtual Gas Transfer Station The 'Amlaki' platform enables property owners and managers to track their transactions transparently, improving the sector's services. Additionally, SEWA introduced the first UAE virtual gas transfer station in Dibba Al Hisn, enhancing gas distribution efficiency and sustainability. Smart stations linking for enhanced grid efficiency SEWA is also developing the 'Smart Stations Linking' system to connect substations to a central control center. This will streamline grid management, improving energy distribution and ensuring more efficient and reliable service for residents.
