Ahmed Al Harethi, PhD student at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, was one of the recipients of the Medal of Top Emiratis.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, presented the award to Al Harethi and 42 other top Emirati achievers in the fields of education, research, health, economy, military, and sports, as part of the 43rd UAE National Day celebrations.

Al Harethi was honoured for being “the first Emirati to invent a mechanism for generation of biofuels with industrial quantities using genetically-modified algae”, which relates to his ongoing doctorate research at Masdar Institute.

Al Harethi said: “I believe that algae hold a great potential for the UAE. It is the only biomass that we can mass produce in the UAE without fresh water or arable lands. It has applications that have direct relevance to the challenges of water, food, and energy security.”