Following the initiative and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to make solar energy the energy of the future in Dubai, the School of Engineering, at the American University in Dubai, organized a workshop titled "Solar Energy and Its Applications in the Gulf Regions" on May 6 and 7, 2007. Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, and Dr. Lana Chaar, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, introduced the workshop which focused on the different categories of solar conversion systems and their applications in the Gulf and the Middle East.

Issues that were discussed during the workshop included Integration of Renewable and Traditional Infrastructures, Dust and Humidity Effect on PV Array, Large Scale projects for UAE, Renewable Energies Strategy Development, to name a few.

During the workshop several presentations took place that explained the different technologies that already exist and how the Gulf in general and the UAE in particular can benefit and save the environment by reducing the CO2 emissions. Ali Said Jamaleddine, an engineering student at AUD also presented the research that 5 electrical engineering undergraduate students and Dr. Lana Chaar are currently working on. This research, titled, Dust, Humidity, and Temperature Effects and Solutions on Photovoltaic Arrays in the UAE, attracted several companies who asked to be kept informed of the findings of the research..

The workshop was co chaired by Dr. Lana Chaar and Dr. Ali El-Haj-Mahmoud, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering. The Organizing Committee for the workshop comprised of Dr. Alaa Ashmawy, Dean of the School of Engineering and Associate Professor of Civil Engineering; Dr. Boutheina Tlili, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering; Dr. Wathiq Mansoor, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering; Dr. Ady Abdellatif, Assistant Professor of Physics; and Engineer Isahq Mohammad, Engineering Laborites Technician.

The two-day workshop, which was sponsored by major local and international energy companies such as Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Siemens, Sharp, Microsol and S.S. Lootah, was attended by over 55 professionals representing various regional and global companies from the UAE, Germany, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

Dr. Alaa Ashmamy commented: "With speakers from Europe, Japan, and the Middle East, this workshop brought new and emerging technologies in solar energy to the attention of the key parties in the region. But more importantly, it allowed a group of researchers, engineering professionals, and business leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of this clean energy alternative in the UAE and the Gulf."

When concluding the workshop, Dr. Chaar announced that, "we aim to promote such technology in every possible way, seeking to produce a safer and better environment for the future."