Abrar Ullah

Abrar Ullah is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University (Dubai) since 2019. He holds a Ph.D. in Security and Usability from the University of Hertfordshire, UK. With over 23 years of experience in academia and industry, his roles include Programme Director for MSc Computer Science (online) and Director of Postgraduate Studies (Dubai). He has held teaching positions at the University of Peshawar, Provincial Health Services Academy Peshawar (2002–2008), and Cardiff University (2011–2017), where he also served as Team Lead & Senior Systems Analyst in professional services. His industry experience includes roles at ABMU NHS (2008–2011) and NHS Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW, 2017–2019).

Research Interests:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Information Security
• Software Engineering
• Usability
• Machine Learning Applications
• Healthcare Technology

Editorial Contributions:

• Guest Editor for Springer's Journal of Discovery Applied Sciences (special issue on "Advanced Internet of Things for Smart Healthcare")
• Guest Editor for MDPI's Journal of Education (special issue on "Current Challenges in Digital Higher Education")
• Guest Editor for MDPI's Journal of Electronics (special issue on "Usable Security and Machine Learning")
• Guest Editor for Hindawi's Journal of Sensors (special issue on "Advances in Sensors for Intelligent Transportation Systems")
• General Chair of ICITA 2021–2024 and Co-Chair of AAAI Summer Symposium 2025

Grant Activity:

• 2021: Collaborative Research Grant (£40,000 AED) for "Optimizing Autonomous Solar Panel Cleaning via Drones in Future Smart Cities"

Research Trends: Recent publications focus on:

• AI-driven solutions for healthcare diagnostics (e.g., PCOS and melanoma detection)
• Cybersecurity for IoT and autonomous systems
• Human-centered design for ADHD learning and gamification
• Blockchain-enhanced communication protocols

Collaborations: Active partnerships with institutions like University of Wollongong, Cardiff University, and NHS organizations.