Abu Dhabi will have Dh1 billion Cert City

WONDERFUL WORLD
	This wonderful world of learning, living and leisure will be spread over one million square meters in a technologically - enabled environment in Abu Dhabi
	- Dr. Tayeb Kamali Vice-Chairman of CERT

ABU DHABI — Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT), the commercial arm of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), is set to establish Dh1 billion 'CERT City' [see Photo Gallery / Virtual Walkthrough].

The mega venture will comprise a cluster of initiatives on learning, innovation, thinking and business, along with a real estate project including a hotel, shopping mall and convention centre.

"Incorporated in 1997 as a research and training centre of excellence in the region, Cert entails Dh200 million contracts on operation, execution, consultation, training and education, in partnership and association with world's top high technology companies," said Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice-Chairman of Cert, in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times.

Dr Kamali, a PhD in aeronautics from George Washington University, USA, from where he also received his MBA degree, has dedicated the last decade and a half to creating and developing world class initiatives that have impacted in no small way towards the socio-economic development of the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi. Cert, one such initiative, has been at the forefront of providing specialized training, promoting entrepreneurship and creativity, and facilitating technological advance through its technology park.

"We have a very clear vision and a practical roadmap to become a globally-recognised entity for education, technology cluster development and operation, which will result in valuable socio-economic benefits, wherever we will operate and will also provide exceptional returns to our shareholders,'' he noted.

Giving an insight and his perspective about the challenges being faced today, he said: "Look at the lack of basic and mainstream research and innovation in this part of the world. We have recognized this gap and believe that it is only by creating a framework and a platform such as Cert City, that the scholars, researchers and scientists and technologists of the world can come here to conduct cutting-edge research and innovation and create knowledge that will help the UAE, the region and of course the world. Very importantly, we will also create the platform and provide the opportunity for our own talent to blossom and flower."

Dwelling on the details of the Cert City project, Dr Kamali unfolded the vision of a fully integrated community of learning, research, innovation and entrepreneurship to be offered.

"We will have everything from an Early Learning Centre for pre-schoolers, a Kindergarten to Grade 12 institute, world class primary and secondary learning institution, the Cert College of Arts and Applied Science, Cert University (for undergraduate studies), the Cert Post-Graduate Open University, the Emirates Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Jumeriah Institute for Executive Leadership. Supporting these world class centre's of excellence will be a top class convention centre, five-star hotel facilities, housing estates, shopping malls and state-of-the-art sports, recreation and leisure facilities.

"This wonderful world of learning, living and leisure will be spread over one million square metres in a fully technologically-enabled environment in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Initially the first Cert City is being established in Abu Dhabi, to be followed soon in Dubai and Sharjah, then in some of the other emirates, and then right across to other countries in the region," he said.

Dr Kamali said that Dh628 million will be allocated for creating a world class global research and innovation powerhouse called Cert Education and Research City, in Abu Dhabi by 2007-08, while Dh181 million will be allocated for future Cert technology ventures.