Saif Saleh Al Seiari, Senior Advisor at Abu Dhabi Executive Office, has been granted a professorship position from the University of Bolton.

The ceremony, which took place on 11 July 2023, recognised Professor Al Seiari's considerable contributions to academia, the energy industry, and sustainability initiatives. Professor George E Holmes DL, President, Vice Chancellor, and Member of the Governing Body at the University of Bolton, and Professor Zubair Yakoob Hanslot, Professor of Engineering Mathematics and Provost at the University of Bolton, were among the university’s representatives to honour the Emirati Professor at the event.

Professor Saif Saleh Al Seiari, Senior Advisor at Abu Dhabi Executive Office, said: “I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the professorship position from such prestigious academic institution. I feel determined more than ever, to use my knowledge and skills to combining and complementing academic research with practical experience in the fields of energy, water and sustainability and I look forward to more diligent work and perseverance to contribute to achieving our wise leadership's vision and consolidating our beloved country's pioneering position.

“The UAE has paid particular early attention to energy, water, and sustainability sectors. I was privileged to work closely on each of these sectors from a practical, administrative, and academic angle. From carbon storage research in reservoirs, to expansion of solar power plants in Abu Dhabi, to fresh water storage projects in the Western Region, to water-from-air research, and numerous other areas. Our country is providing us limitless opportunities.”

Professor George E Holmes DL, President, Vice-Chancellor, and Member of the Governing Body at the University of Bolton, said: "The UAE is one of the world’s most significant economies for the development of the future of the globe, and we as a university are so proud to work with colleagues from the UAE to develop knowledge exchange, international transfer of staff and students and the opportunities for both economies to learn from each other, because the world is about learning together and connecting, and there is nothing more important than the opportunity we have been given today by sharing this professorship in engineering to connect cultures, connect the future and enable the world to prosper.”

Professor Zubair Yakoob Hanslot, Professor of Engineering Mathematics and Provost at the University of Bolton, said: "We have great plans to work with Professor Saif, and today we are recognising him by granting him the professorship position. We feel that he is special to us and his ability and connections are helping the university. In the University of Bolton, he is the first UAE national to be installed as a full Professor of Engineering, and that in itself is a significant milestone that brings our two nations much closer together. We share such great values and we could share practice, and there is an element of exchange of research and knowledge between our two countries. We hope that we are going to progress on those bases.”

Professor Al Seiari is a distinguished scholar and influential leader with more than 23 years of experience in the energy sector, having started his career as a Petroleum Engineer at ADNOC, his experience spans various roles, from technical and managerial, to strategic and policymaking. Professor Al Seiari served as an Executive Officer for Energy Solutions at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company - TAQA, pioneering the company’s growth in renewable energy and sustainability sectors. He also served as the Director-General of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, launching mega projects, including the world's largest independent solar plant, Noor Abu Dhabi. Presently, Professor Al Seiari is serving as a senior advisor at Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

Professor Al Seiari holds a PhD from Imperial College London, a master's degree from the French Institute of Petroleum in Paris, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, US.

The University of Bolton, founded in 1825 and ranked among top universities in the UK, holds degree awarding powers by Royal Charter, currently given by King Charles III and authorised by the Privy Council. The university welcomes students from across the globe, and its degrees are recognised in the UAE.

The university’s research in the area of advanced engineering is of world class standard, as reflected in its Research Excellence Framework (REF) scores, which highlighted that almost 20 per cent of research publications were rated as world-leading, and up to 40 per cent as internationally excellent.