IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - June 2008 - 27

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE A. HELLER

Hamda Jassim, electrical engineer (second from left), Hassan Omar, Karen Panetta,
Mohammed AlQuraishi, general manager of human resources and administration,
and Keyana Tennant, gather during a visit to Ducab.

to walk on water was so real that I
stepped cautiously onto the walkway, as
if afraid I would actually get wet.
The grandeur of the foyer was overwhelming. There was a model showing
how the surrounding desert will
become Dubai's technology center. This
is a "free zone," which means that new
businesses and imports can come into
Dubai without a lot of red tape or duty
taxes that typically drive businesses
away. The city will have housing for
employees, schools for the children, and
shopping centers, so that commute

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE A. HELLER

for engineers in the IEEE fields of interest. Being an educator, I always think of
students and ask if they hire student
engineers as interns. They do, and
welcome students to apply. This is exactly the kind of opportunity with which
our WIE student branches need access.
Gaining experience in a world class facility is an opportunity any student from
around the globe would welcome.
I am invited to meet Dr. Eeasa Bastaki, the IEEE UAE chair and director of
Dubai's most ambitious technology venture, Silicon Oasis. Like every other project we have seen while in Dubai, His
Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed has
put out the challenge to create a world
class semiconductor research facility
that will rival Silicon Valley in the United
States. We drove for quite a while and
turned off into a vast desert. Off in the
distance was the most spectacular building architecture I have ever seen. I contend that it's even more beautiful than
Dubai's seven-star Jumeirah Beach hotel.
This is Dubai's headquarters for Silcon
Oasis, which will be the hub for an entire
city infrastructure dedicated to supporting the semiconductor technology and
new technology businesses. As I entered
the building, I had to walk across a glass
walkway that had running water running
beneath it. The illusion that I was about

During her visit, Karen Panetta found that there are no negative stereotypes
associated with female engineers.

SUMMER 2008

time will be minimized. Every service
the community will require has been
planned in to create a healthy, stressfree environment for employees and
their families. The incredible part was
that this ambitious venture will be finished in only a few years, which means I
should still be alive and well to see the
miraculous transformation of a desert
into a city, a feat unparalleled by any
other country in the world.
One of the unique aspects of the Silicon Oasis concept is its dedication to
entrepreneurship. To encourage new
businesses, even those with as little as
one employee, they have instituted a
business center that will support small
businesses wishing to bring their technology to Dubai. The facilities and support infrastructure are so well thought
out and welcoming, that it is no wonder
that entrepreneurs flock to Dubai.
Soon, Dubai will have the world's
largest airport-no surprise since every
project in Dubai is world class caliber.
Dubai's incredible engineering feats will
continue to astound the world and make
Dubai a living legacy to their beloved
leader who started it all, Sheikh Rashid.
-Karen Panetta is the editor-in-chief
of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine.

IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - June 2008