GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK - 2013 - The Petroleum Institute

Dedicated to Excellence 

YOUR GUIDE TO 

STUDYING AND LIVING 

WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL 

GRADUATE STUDENT 

HANDBOOK - 2013

Graphic Design: Shereef Cherikkallan 

Copyright © 2013, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi

GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK 

2013 

THE PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, ABU DHABI, UAE 

Policy Regarding Online and Print Versions of the Petroleum Institute’s 

Catalogs, Manuals and Handbooks 

Every effort has been made to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information possible in PI’s catalogs, manuals, and 

handbooks. Each document is revised yearly and limited numbers printed once every two years. There may be times 

when substantive changes are required during the academic year and between the times the documents are printed. The 

catalogs, manuals, and handbooks are posted on the Institute’s website at www.pi.ac.ae. Faculty, staff, and students 

should consult the PI website periodically for updates on catalogs, manuals, and handbooks. In case of a conflict 

between this handbook and any supplements hereto and any other written or oral statements, the Graduate Catalogue 

shall be deemed to be the official statement. The Institute reserves the right to change any of the statements herein by 

reasonable notice in any supplemental publication specifically setting forth any such changes.

Graduate Student Handbook - 2012 4

Contents 

Message from the Acting President and Provost ............................................................. 

Message from the Acting Dean of the Graduate School .................................................. 

The Graduate School ......................................................................................................... 

Institutional Mission and Goals ....................................................................................... 

Profile of the PI Graduate ................................................................................................. 

Graduate Programs ........................................................................................................... 

M.Sc. Thesis/M.Eng. Project ............................................................................................. 

Important Dates ................................................................................................................ 

Academic Affairs ................................................................................................................ 

Student Affairs .................................................................................................................. 

Campus Facilities and Services ....................................................................................... 

Registry and Records ........................................................................................................ 

Sports Facilities and Recreation ...................................................................................... 

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) ............................................................................. 

Important Contacts ........................................................................................................... 

The UAE and Abu Dhabi .................................................................................................. 

PI Location Map ................................................................................................................ 

PI Campus Map ................................................................................................................. 

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Graduate Student Handbook - 2013

Message from the Acting President and Provost 

At the same time, we collaborate with leading research 

universities in US, Europe and Asia in graduate 

education and research. 

Our faculty is very diverse in terms of their national 

background creating a truly international environment. 

Most of them have substantial industrial and academic 

expertise from leading corporations and universities. 

In addition, we have the opportunity to host visiting 

faculty for a short or longer period of time for the 

benefit of our students, researchers and faculty. 

Ahlan Wasahlan! 

Greetings from the Petroleum Institute – a diverse, 

stimulating and inviting community committed to 

your success. 

The PI was launched in 2001 with the mission to provide 

world class university education in engineering and 

applied sciences, operate as a leading international 

research center that fosters the creation of knowledge 

for the benefit of the regional oil and gas industry, 

and provide continuing education opportunities to 

professionals. The PI is financially supported and 

governed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company 

(ADNOC) and its international partners (British 

Petroleum, Shell, Total and Japan Oil Development 

Company). 

PI faculty and students are in a unique position to 

work on real life exciting engineering research projects 

hand-in-hand with colleagues from our industrial 

partners. This environment gives the opportunity to 

our students to be fully equipped with knowledge and 

experience for their future professional careers. 

I encourage you to explore carefully the full range 

of our academic opportunities where you will find 

inspiration and support to fulfill your educational and 

career goals. I also invite you to visit our campus in 

person to experience all that PI has to offer. 

I look forward to meeting you at PI. 

Dr. Ismail A. Tag 

Acting President and Provost 

Graduate Student Handbook - 2013 4

Message from the Acting Dean of the Graduate School 

The Graduate School is keen to deliver services of 

value to you, and this Student Handbook has been 

produced in that spirit. The handbook is intended to 

provide you with information to take advantage of the 

support offered and the resources available. It also 

contains a brief summary of important milestones and 

deadline to help you utilizing your time and energy 

most efficiently. More detailed information can be 

found in the Graduate Catalogue. Please take the 

time to familiarize yourself with these resources and 

the full range of opportunities available, and please do 

not hesitate to contact the Graduate School for any 

further questions you may have. 

Marhaba! 

I trust that you will have a successful and enjoyable 

time at the Graduate School of the Petroleum Institute 

and wish you the best as you start your academic year 

with us! 

I cordially welcome you to the Graduate School of 

the Petroleum Institute. Our academic programs 

aim to educate engineers and scientists for an 

outstanding professional career in industry, academia, 

government, and services worldwide. The Graduate 

School looks forward to supporting you in your 

academic advancement by providing the highest 

quality of education possible. I am confident that you 

will benefit from the international and multicultural 

intellectual environment, and the exciting opportunities 

in research. 

Dr. Thomas Steuber 

Dean of the Graduate School (Acting) 

Chairman Petroleum Geosciences 

Professor of Geology 

5 


The Graduate School 

The Petroleum Institute (PI) was created in 2001 with the goal of establishing itself as a world-class institution in 

engineering education and research in areas of significance to the oil and gas and the broader energy industries. 

The PI’s sponsors and partners include Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and four major international oil 

companies, such as BP, JODCO, Shell, and Total. 

The Graduate School was established in 2011 with the mission to manage and direct Graduate Studies at PI in 

order to provide quality services that contribute to the achievement of PI’s strategic objectives. 

The Graduate School is responsible for the day-to-day management of the PI graduate programs, development 

of new graduate programs, coordination of the recruitment of new graduate students, collaboration with ADNOC 

and its operating companies to ensure that the graduate programs are in-line with their needs for highly skilled 

engineers, and enhancement of the collaboration of the Institute with partner universities in the USA, Europe and 

China. 

The Graduate School advises and supports PI undergraduate students regarding their plans for graduate studies 

at PI and abroad while it coordinates recruiting of the graduating Master students by ADNOC and its operating 

companies. 

Master of Engineering degrees are offered in the following areas: 

• Chemical Engineering 

• Electrical Engineering 

• Health, Safety & Environment Engineering 

• Mechanical Engineering 

• Petroleum Engineering 

Master of Science degrees are offered in the following areas: 

• Applied Chemistry 





• Petroleum Geosciences 

6 


PI’s Graduate School has been a great 

experience for me both academically and 

socially. 

Ahmed Abdul Hameed Mohamed Al Tandi

Institutional Mission and Goals 

The Petroleum Institute will provide a world-class education in engineering and applied sciences in order to 

support and advance the petroleum and energy industries. The Institute is committed to academic excellence, 

and to fostering an intellectual environment that leads to the development of our graduates as whole persons and 

as the future leaders in their respective fields of expertise in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. 

To achieve its mission The Petroleum Institute: 

1. offers programs of instruction leading to baccalaureate degrees to produce graduates that have the skills, 

knowledge, and competencies that meet the needs of ADNOC and its other sponsors; 

2. practices and infuses in its students the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental awareness; 

3. manages the content, quality, design and continuous innovation of its academic programs in a manner that 

creates and sustains a reputation for institutional excellence and earns local, regional and international 

accreditation; 

4. provides programs of study leading to relevant post-graduate degrees and foster the creation and 

dissemination of knowledge that is pertinent to the needs of industry and enriches the academic programs 

of the PI; 

5. provides professional outreach and continuing education programs that serve the on-going needs of 

practicing professionals; 

6. operates as a center of excellence for education, research, and professional service that interconnects 

globally with regional and international industrial constituents, and with international partners in education 

and professional societies; 

7. fosters technological innovation and entrepreneurship leading to development of advanced processes and 

products that provides for economic expansion and promotes business development opportunities. 


I like the teachers and the staff. They 

make you feel comfortable and you can 

easily approach them to share new ideas. 

Ahmed Tariq Khalil 

9 


Profile of the PI Graduate 

Recognizing that the most immediate and dominant product of The Petroleum Institute will be the graduates, the 

institutional educational goals are captured in the following attributes that reflect “the whole person development” 

of the graduating student: 

• The graduating student will exhibit applied and theoretical competence in a field of technical specialization, 

and will be oriented in engineering practices germane to the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The 

student will have the resourcefulness and capability to apply scientific and engineering principles in 

solving a wide variety of technical problems. 

• The graduating student will appreciate the critical role played by verbal, written and graphical 

communications in engineering practice and project management, and will have the corresponding skills 

to communicate with a range of audiences, and the skills to employ information technologies where 

appropriate. 

• The graduating student should acknowledge that technologies, economies and societies are in a continuous 

state of evolution, and should therefore have the flexibility to manage a career path that changes over 

time, and that is supported by life-long learning, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership and the ability to 

span several disciplines. 

• The graduating student should understand the global nature of modern engineering and business. In 

order to succeed in this international arena, the student should have an awareness of customary practices 

in different countries and the influence of diverse cultures. 

• The graduating student should have the professional integrity and maturity to serve humanity and its 

highest values, and should always make ethical decisions as they relate to society, corporate operations, 

technology, and the environment. 


It has been a refreshing learning 

experience. It has impressive facilities 

and a beautiful environment. 

Salama Al Marzooqi 

11 


Graduate Programs 

Types of Programs 

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.): The Master of Engineering programs at PI are directed toward engineers that 

would like to pursue advanced studies and intend to have a professional career in industry. Graduate courses 

emphasize applications of fundamental engineering concepts to industrial problems. The M.Eng. programs consist 

of graduate core and elective courses and research work to be used for the student’s Master of Engineering project 

report. Advanced technical as well as business management elements are taught. PI offers M.Eng. programs in: 



• Health, Safety and Environment Engineering 



Master of Science (M.Sc.): The Master of Science programs at PI emphasize fundamental concepts and are 

designed for students that want later in their career to be involved in research, either through a PhD degree or in 

a corporate environment. The M.Sc. programs consist of graduate core and elective courses and research work 

to be used for the student’s Master Thesis. PI offers M.Sc. programs in: 

• Applied Chemistry 





• Petroleum Geosciences 


It is a melting pot of creative minds. It 

makes this world a smaller place by bringing 

creative minds from many countries. 

Athanasios Pitsas 

13 


Applied Chemistry 

Mission 

To provide a high quality education in applied chemistry, and to produce research chemists with an engineering 

background who are capable of fulfilling some of the key research and technical needs of the petroleum industry. 

The program is specifically tailored for the petroleum industry and will help graduates to prepare for successful 

careers, and meet the needs and expectations of PI sponsors from the oil and gas, and broader energy sectors. 

Exciting Research in Applied Chemistry 

• Polymers and nanomaterials chemistry 

• Petroleum production & process chemistry 

• Industrial catalysis 

• Fuels and alternative energy sources 

• Corrosion science & physical chemistry 

• Environmental science & water technology 

• Computational chemistry 

• Organometallics / applied inorganic chemistry 

• Modern instrumentation and applied organic chemistry 

• Spectrochemical studies 

Graduate Program 

• Master of Science (33 credits) 


Chemical Engineering 

Mission 

To provide a world-class education in chemical engineering science and practice, and to produce graduates and 

future leaders who are capable of meeting or exceeding the needs and expectations of PI sponsors from oil and 

gas, and broader energy industry. In addition, graduates will engage in life-long learning that will enable them to 

keep abreast of and effectively contribute to their advancement in the profession. 

Exciting Research in Chemical Engineering 

• Heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering 

• Process simulation and optimization 

• Gas processing and treatment 

• Alternative energy resources 

• Asphaltene studies and modeling 

• Desalination of sea water through gas hydrates 

• Ionic liquids and applications 

• Thermodynamics and phase equilibria 

• Nanotechnology and its applications 

• Oil spill cleanup and recovery 

• Wastewater treatment 

• Polymer science 

• Polymer composites: synthesis and characterization and applications 

• Rheology of polyolens-graphene composites 



• Master of Engineering (33 credits) 

15 


Electrical Engineering 

Mission 

To provide a world-class education in electrical engineering with emphasis on power and control systems engineering 

that prepares graduates for successful professional careers in ADNOC, other sponsors, and the broader energy 

industry, and a life time of learning that will enable them to continue their education throughout their career. 

Exciting Research in Electrical Engineering 

• Real time digital simulation 

• Stability improvement with grid connected solar form/hybrid system 

• Different MMPT techniques for photovoltaic system and designing improved MMPT techniques considering 

cost and efficiency 

• Control strategy for hybrid power system – perspective isolated networks and remote areas 

• Enhanced oil recovery using electrical methods 

• Smart grid applications 





Heath, Safety and Environment Engineering 

Mission 

To produce engineers from a variety of disciplines, with sufficient scientific, engineering and management breadth 

in the field of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), to achieve the goal of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) 

through Design, by managing risk as they design and implement optimal and cost-effective engineering and 

operational solutions, within the constraints of regulatory mandate and best practice, to improve productivity and 

profitability. 

M.Eng. in HSE Program Courses Include 

• Industrial hygiene engineering 

• System safety engineering and risk management 

• Ergonomics and human factors engineering 

• Hazard control in production systems 

• Fire protection engineering 

• Hse program management 

• Environmental regulatory compliance 

• Hazardous waste management 

• Analysis and design of air pollution control systems 

• Analysis and design of water pollution control systems 

• Industrial security and disaster preparedness 

• Industrial noise assessment and control 

• Construction safety management 

• Environmental regulatory compliance 

• Research methods in HSE 



17 


Mechanical Engineering 

Mission 

To support the advancement of the petroleum and energy industries in the United Arab Emirates through excellence 

in education and research in the field of mechanical engineering. 

Exciting Research in Mechanical Engineering 

• Computational transport phenomena 

• Dynamic system and control 

• Flow in fluid handling facilities 

• Machining of polymer composites 

• Waste heat utilization and heat exchangers 

• Mechanics of advanced materials and design 

• Fuel cell technology 

• System safety and ergonomics 

• Mechatronics and field robotics 

• Nanotechnology and its applications 

• Multiphase flow 

• Energy: solar cell, heat exchange etc. 

• Thermofluids 

• Computer aided design 

• Virtual prototyping 





Petroleum Engineering 

Mission 

To become a leading international center of excellence in education, training, research and professional service 

dedicated to serving the competence, training and technology development needs of the petroleum industry, in 

general, and ADNOC and other allied sponsors, in particular. Our mission is to provide a platform for life-long 

learning while also emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approach, ethical conduct, and health, safety 

& environmental issues. 

Exciting Research in Petroleum Engineering 

• Prevention of micro-annulus formation & improving mechanical properties and numerical simulation 

• Analysis and selection procedure of drilling bits 

• Downhole flow assurance through electromagnetic method 

• Water production control in fractured formation 

• Development of corrosion inhibition for sub-sea environment 

• Development of threshold polymeric scale inhibitors 

• Use of gas lift system to inject scale and corrosion inhibiting chemicals 

• Borehole collapse and hollow cylinder tests on rock samples 

• Borehole stability analysis 

• Managing scale deposition, prevention, inhibition and dissolution 

• Asphaltene, paraffin and wax deposition challenges in mature oil & gas fields 




19 


Petroleum Geosciences 

Mission 

To provide a high-quality education in petroleum geology and geophysics and to produce graduates for successful 

and socially and ethically responsible careers in the petroleum industry that meet or exceed the needs and 

expectations of ADNOC and other industry sponsors. 

Exciting Research in Petroleum Geosciences 

• Carbon and strontium isotope chemostratigraphy 

• Multi-component seismic data analysis 

• Passive microseismic and advanced gravimetric monitoring of reservoirs 

• The structure and evolution of the UAE mountains and foreland basins 

• Rock properties, sedimentological and diagenetic characteristics of carbonate rocks 

• Seismic and EM properties correlation 

• Processing of seismic lab data 

• Stochastic and deterministic inversion of a 4d-seismic carbonate survey 

• Fracture diagenesis of carbonate reservoirs 

• Reservoir characterization 

• The impact of hydrothermal dolomitization on reservoirs evolution 

• Linking diagenesis to sequence stratigraphy 

• Geostatistical prediction of seismic changes during production (4d-seismic geostatistical model) 

• Evaluation of fluid substitution models in carbonate rocks 

• Chronostratigraphically constrained geological modelling 




It is highly innovative and widely 

renowned institute priding itself in 

research and academic excellence 

Salem Nasser Ahmed Saleh AL Hammami 

21 


M.Sc. Thesis/M.Eng. Project 

Description 

Master of Science Thesis 

Each Master of Science student must complete and openly defend a written thesis. The thesis is expected to 

demonstrate the student’s ability to apply knowledge and skills that they acquired in the courses completed as 

part of their respective program of study. This involves identifying, analyzing and solving a discipline oriented 

or an interdisciplinary research problem and evaluation of the solution and the presentation of the results in a 

professional manner. The thesis is an in-depth study of a topic, reflecting the ability of the student to apply science 

and engineering techniques. The thesis must be the result of independent work with supervision and support 

from the research advisor. It is expected, but not required, that the thesis will be the basis for one or more peerreviewed 

journal publications and / or presentations in internationally recognized conferences. 

Master of Engineering Project 

Each Master of Engineering student must complete and openly defend a written engineering project report. The 

engineering project report is expected to demonstrate the student’s ability to apply knowledge and skills that they 

acquired in the courses completed as part of their respective program of study to identify, analyze and solve a 

discipline oriented or an interdisciplinary engineering problem of industrial relevance. Students are expected to 

evaluate the solution and present the results of the work in a professional manner. For students that already work 

in industry, the project can be closely related interest and needs of their employers. The report must be the result 

of independent work with supervision and support from the research advisor. 

Rules and Regulations 

Following are a set of procedures or policies related to the M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. project: 

• By the end of his/her first semester at PI, a full-time graduate student should choose a research thesis 

advisor. 

• A student may not formally begin work on the thesis / project until at least 8 credit hours of approved 

M.Sc. / M.Eng. course work has been completed. After starting the project, the student must register 

for of the M.Sc. thesis course (XXX 599) or M.Eng. project course (XXX 598) for each semester until the 

research is completed and approved. A maximum of six (6) credit hours of thesis research can be applied 

to a M.Sc. / M.Eng. degree in the relevant engineering program, except in Petroleum Geosciences where 

the M.Sc. thesis consists of 12 credit hours. 

• Once the thesis topic is selected with approval by the thesis advisor, the student will prepare a formal 

proposal to present to the members of the GAC for approval. 

• An oral defense of the proposal is required that includes a presentation of the student’s proposal to the 

student’s GAC. 

• The completed thesis has to be defended, and the Graduate school must be informed about the thesis 

defense one month before the proposed thesis defense date. 


Duration 

Students are required to register for 6 credit hours of thesis research (12 in Petroleum Geosciences) prior to 

present their M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. project. Although it may take longer to complete, a typical duration of the 

thesis / project for a full-time student is two regular semesters. For part-time students, it should be expected that 

a longer period of time will be needed. 

Brief Roadmap for Master Students 

Activity 

Selection of a research advisor 

Appointment of a Graduate Advisory Committee 

(GAC) 

Registration for M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. project credit 

hours 

Submission and presentation of M.Sc. thesis / 

M.Eng. project proposal to GAC 

Initiation of M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. project report 

writing 

Inform the Graduate School on the intention of to 

defend thesis. 

Submission of M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. project report 

to GAC and coordinator 

Defense coordinator and GAC submit evaluation 

report to the Graduate School 

Submission to the Graduate School of 2 unbounded 

copies signed by the GAC and a soft copy (.pdf file) 

of M.Sc. thesis / M.Eng. report 

Due Date 

By the end of the first semester enrolled in the 

program 

Within a month from the appointment of the 

research advisor 

After completion of at least 8 credit hours of course 

work in the program. Registration dates are included 

in the Petroleum Institute Academic Calendar. 

Requires approval by the research advisor 

Within one academic semester from the appointment 

of the GAC 

Submit request for graduation from one week after 

the add/ drop period of last semester 

During the intended last semester of studies 

At least one month prior to the intended defense 

date 

At least two weeks prior to the defense day 

Within three days from the defense date 

Upon corrections made by the student based on 

the evaluation by the GAC and approval by them. 

Within a month from the defense date 

For more details on M.Sc. Thesis/M.Eng. Project, please refer to: 

Graduate Catalog, academic year 2012-2013. 

23 


Important Dates 

Spring 2013 

Spring Semester Classes Begin Sunday, February 3 

Add/Drop Period Begins Sunday, February 3 

Last Day to Drop without Record 

Sunday, February 10 at 3pm 

**Submit request to Graduate (Spring 2013) Sunday , February 17 

Spring Break Begins, Classes Suspended Sunday, March 31- Thursday, April 11 

Classes Resume Sunday, April 14 

Mid Semester Grades Due Monday, April 15 

Advisement Period Begins Sunday, April 21 

**Deadline to schedule Thesis Defense Tuesday, April 30 

Last Day to Withdraw from Classes Thursday, May 2 

Early Registration for Summer/Fall Sunday, May 5 -Thursday, May 16 

Make Up Class Day (if necessary) Saturday, May 18 

Last Day of Spring Classes Thursday, May 30 

Study Days, Classes Suspended Friday, May 31 - Monday, June 3 

Final Exams Days June 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 

Final Exams Make Up Day Monday, June 10 

Final Grades Due Tuesday, June 11 

Summer 2013 

Summer Session Classes/Internships Begin Sunday, June 16 

Add/Drop Period Begins Sunday, June 16 

Last Day to Drop without Record Monday, June 17 

Mid Session Grades Due Tuesday, July 2 

Last Day to Withdraw from Summer Classes Tuesday, July 9 

Last Day of Summer Classes Thursday, July 18 

Final Exams Day Sunday, July 21 

Final Grades Due Tuesday, July 23 

Internships End Thursday, August 8 

Internship Grades Due Sunday, September 1 

Fall 2013 

Fall Classes Begin (projected) Sunday, September 8* 

* Note: In the event of any changes to the Academic Calendar, an official notification will be sent by the Office of the Senior Vice 

President and Provost. If Make Up Class days are required, an official notification will be sent by the Office of the Senior Vice President 

and Provost. 

* Islamic holidays are determined after sighting the moon. Thus, actual dates may not coincide with the dates in this calendar. In the 

event of loss of teaching days due to unscheduled closings, the semester(s) may be extended or Saturday classes may be required. 

**Specifically for Graduate Student 


Academic Affairs 

Registration 

How to Register 

Registration is done through CAMS (PI online student information system) with the student’s PI e-services account 

username and password. 

CAMS gives student and advisors access to records and information including grades and class schedules. It 

also provides a course management tool for sending emails, setting up discussion boards, posting to student 

calendars, uploading documents, inserting links, online testing and other course-related functions. 

The Registrar’s Office sends an announcement regarding the registration schedule in every semester. 

Part time/Full time Status 

Students are expected to register for at least 6 credits (6 credits is defined as full-time) each Fall and Spring 

semester unless they receive special permission from their Department Chairman. 

A student must satisfy all graduation requirements within 36 months for full-time and within 48 months for 

part-time students from first enrollment at the Petroleum Institute inclusive of any approved leave. 

Full time students that receive financial support from PI (in the form of graduate research/teaching assistantship) 

are expected to graduate within 24 months. 

For students with first enrollment in the academic year 2009 – 2010 and earlier, graduation requirements should 

be satisfied within 6 years from first enrollment. 

Withdrawal from a Course 

Students may withdraw from a degree course during the official add/drop period without any record of enrollment 

in the course appearing on their transcript. Students may withdraw from any degree course during the official 

withdrawal period. A grade of “W” will be reflected on the student’s official academic record. 

Students considering withdrawing from any course should discuss the decision with their research advisor or with 

the Department Chairman. Withdrawing from a course may have an impact on a student’s stipend. 

The Add/Drop/Withdrawal and Temporary/Permanent Withdrawal forms can be downloaded from: 

http://www.pi.ac.ae/PI_ACA/pgp/forms.php. 

25 


Return after a Missed Semester, Full Withdrawal from a Semester, 

Suspension or Dismissal 

Students who have missed a regular semester, voluntarily withdrawn for a semester or have been suspended do 

not have an automatic right to return to the Petroleum Institute. All requests for re-admission following a missed 

fall or spring Semester, or voluntary withdrawal from all courses or a period of suspension or any appeal of a 

dismissal must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office on a Request to Resume Studies at the Petroleum Institute 

form. This form can be downloaded from: http://www.pi.ac.ae/PI_ACA/pgp/forms.php. The Registrar’s Office 

accepts or dismisses the request based on a recommendation by the Graduate Council. 

A student who has been dismissed must also submit a letter which states clearly the reason(s) why he/she should 

be re-admitted. Appeals for re-admission after dismissal will be considered by the Graduate Council on a caseby-case 

basis. Factors which may be taken into consideration include the student’s previous Petroleum Institute 

academic record, attendance record, any disciplinary issues, relevant medical information, evidence of ability to 

succeed, the duration of the student’s absence, and any other information which the student or the committee 

feels is relevant. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Graduate Council that he/ 

she has both the motivation and the ability to succeed at the Petroleum Institute. 

Tuition Fee Payment 

Master students in the Part time Program should provide the tuition fee payment or a letter of sponsorship 

from their employer a week before classes starts. Payment and letter of sponsorship should be made out to 

The Petroleum Institute and sent to the attention of the Manager of Finance and Administration, The Petroleum 

Institute, P.O. Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

New Graduate Program Tuition Fee Scheme (approved on 01 June 2012): 

A student with 50% assistantship or PI employee assistantship is expected to have a CGPA of 3.0 or above in order 

to maintain the reduced tuition fee. 

Non-ADNOC 

Full Payment 

Total 

AED 130,000 

Non-ADNOC 

with 50% Assistantship 

Total 

AED 65,000 

ADNOC 

Full Payment 

Total 

AED 100,000 

ADNOC 

with 50% Assistantship 

Total 

AED 50,000 

PI Employee 

with Assistantship 

Free tuition 

for the 1 st course 

of the graduate program 

or 

or 

or 

or 

+ 

AED 4,000 

per credit hour 

+ 

AED 1,970 


+ 

AED 3,062 


+ 

AED 1,500 


+ 

25% of tuition 

for each 

additional course 

AED 2,000 

for thesis/project 

AED 2,000 


AED 2,000 


AED 2,000 


+ 

AED 2,000 



Refund Policy: 

The date recorded by the Registrar’s Office for add/drop and withdrawal will be used as the official date for the 

tuition fee adjustment as follows: 

Date 

Refund 

Before classes begin 100% 

Before add/drop ends 70% 

Before last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” 30% 

After last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” 

None 

For any questions regarding tuition fee payment, please contact the following: 

Mr. Mahmoud Aburabia 

Phone: 02 607 5601 

Email: maburabia@pi.ac.ae 

Transcript 

Two original official transcripts in English or with an official English translation attached should be submitted upon 

admission to the graduate program. The official transcripts should be attested by the UAE Ministry of Higher 

Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). For attestation of the required documents by MOHESR, please refer 

to the following web site: https://www.mohesr.gov.ae/ar/Documents/att.jpg. 

All the required application materials should be submitted to: 

Graduate Studies Coordinator 

The Graduate School - The Petroleum Institute 

P.O. Box 2533 

Abu Dhabi, UAE 

English Language Proficiency Requirement 

Graduate students are required to provide a TOEFL/IELTS score certificate upon their admission to the graduate 

program in order to satisfy the English Language Proficiency requirement. 

The minimum scores accepted are as follows: 

550 on the TOEFL paper-based test 

213 on the TOEFL computer-based test 

79 on the TOEFL internet-based test 

6.0 on the IELTS exam 

27 


For the TOEFL test, the accredited testing center in the UAE is: 

America – Mideast Educational & Training Services Inc. (AMIDEAST) 

Phone: 02-4457248 (Direct) / 02-4456720 ext.231 (Main) 

Web: http://www.amideast.org/uae 

The Designated Institution Code (DI) of The Petroleum Institute for TOEFL is 4091. 

For the IELTS exam, you may contact the following: 

British Council, Abu Dhabi 

Phone: 02 – 6658778 

Web: http://www.britishcouncil.org/uae 

Satisfactory Academic Standing 

At the end of each semester and summer session, a degree student’s academic standing is assessed based on the 

accumulated total quality hours, cumulative grade point average, and semester grade point average. 

To be considered in good academic standing: 

• Full time Fellowship Graduate Research/Teaching Assistants (FGR/TA) should maintain a CGPA 

of 3.50 out of 4.0 

• Full time Graduate Research/Teaching Assistants (GR/TA) should maintain a CGPA of 3.25 out of 

4.0 

• Full time/Part time graduate students should maintain a CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 

A student’s progress toward successful completion of a graduate degree shall be deemed 

unsatisfactory if any of the following conditions occur: 

• Failure to maintain the required CGPA 

• Failure to successfully defend the Master of Engineering Project Report or Master of Science Thesis after 

two attempts 

Receipt of an “Unsatisfactory Progress” recommendation from: (1) the Chairperson of the student’s home 

Department, (2) the student’s graduate advisory committee, or (3) a departmental committee charged with the 

responsibility of monitoring the student’s progress. 


The university has a nice vibe to it. I like 

that there’s always something going on, 

never a dull moment 

Joelle Fawaz 

29 


Student Affairs 

Code of Conduct 

The Petroleum Institute respects and protects an individual’s dignity, integrity and reputation. To this end, all 

members of our community must comply with the conventions and regulations of the PI’s life that are necessary 

to maintain order, protect individuals and property, and fulfill the purpose and responsibilities of the PI. 

Every member of our community is expected to follow the principles of decency, modesty and propriety in their 

behavioral conduct and dress code in line with the spirit of the national cultural norms and religious traditions of 

the United Arab Emirates all times, both on and off campus. 

The Petroleum Institute is a community of faculty, students, and staff. Everyone must respect all religions and 

beliefs, nationalities and race, and be sensitive to others. It is expected that all are treated with respect and 

maintain cordial and friendly relations with one’s colleagues and all PI members. 

All members of the PI community and its visitors must be aware of the following: 

• Professional and ethical conduct is expected in all campus facilities at all time. All members of the PI 

community must refrain from obscene language and behavior, and be respectful of others. 

• Refrain from doing anything that may be harmful to oneself/others safety, health or security and follow 

the instruction of the HSE (Health Safety and Environment) Committee. 

• Physical and verbal abuse, fighting, and harmful discussions are strictly prohibited. 

• Harassment, whether verbal or written, against any member of the PI community is severely punished. 

This includes, but not limited to, gender, race, nationality, physical disabilities, religion, etc. 

• Smoking is prohibited in the PI buildings. 

• Must not possess, sell, transmit, use or consume alcohol or any prohibited drugs/substances. 

• Strict prohibition from acquiring, bringing, displaying, manufacturing or carrying any sort of arms or other 

material that may affect others safety on the PI campus. 

• Distributing/issuing posters, wallpapers, bulletins and all printing material including in electronic form 

should be pre-approved by the Student Affairs Department. 

• Care for and protect PI property, and must strictly abide by all regulations and instructions relating to the 

use/maintenance of the instrument/equipment, and avoid unlawful use. 

• Taking PI property or property of others without permission or knowingly possessing stolen items will 

be considered a theft. Tampering with, vandalizing or damaging PI property or that of others will not be 

tolerated. 

• Do not enter or attempt to enter without lawful authority any building or facility on PI premises against 

the will of the lawful occupant or of the person lawfully in charge. 

• Do not violate any traffic laws, including reckless driving and parking in unauthorized spaces. 

• Gambling or other illegal or unauthorized games are prohibited. 

• Pets are not allowed on campus for any reason. 


• Deceit, forgery, alteration or unauthorized use of documents including medical excuses/records or 

instruments of identification with the intent to deceive will result in severe disciplinary action. 

• All violators of PI’s policies and the UAE applicable laws will be subject to PI action and disciplined in 

accordance with the act committed. 

Women are expected to dress conservatively wearing the abaya or long-sleeved shirts or blouses, skirts with 

lengths below the knees, and slacks that are loose fitting combined with long tops or jackets. Men are expected 

to dress professionally wearing the traditional kandoura or a shirt and long trousers. Any other form of dress is 

strictly prohibited. 

Exercise and sport clothes should be worn at ASAB only (Sport Area), and the use of safety gear is restricted to 

lab areas. All forms of tattoo and piercing (ear, noise, tongue, eyes brows) are strictly prohibited at PI. This code 

applies to all who work and visit the Petroleum Institute. It is intended to provide everyone with a healthy learning 

and work place, and ensures a collegial and professional environment that is safe and secure. 

Counseling 

Student Affairs maintains an extensive student counseling service. The student counseling office assists faculty 

in maintaining a positive learning environment in the classroom, deals with disciplinary and academic dishonesty 

issues, and actively works with students who are experiencing academic or personal problems. The primary 

responsibilities of the Counseling Office include: 

• Counseling, advising, and providing crisis management services for students with academic or personal 

concerns. 

• Communicating with students’ guardians regarding these concerns 

• Assisting students as they plan their work placements and internships 

• Working with the student advisors to assist the students on academic issues such as course scheduling 

and career counseling 

31 


Student Council 

Student Councils are dedicated to bringing about a sense of community amongst the students and to enabling 

the students to organize themselves. Both men and women Student Councils consist of fifteen directly elected 

members, of which ten are officers and may vote and five are non-voting members-at-large. The officers consist 

of a president, a vice-president, a treasurer, a secretary and six activity committee chairmen. Members-at-large 

are representatives from Finance, Academic Affairs and Student Affair, as well as one representative from the AUP 

Program. The Executive Council comprises the president, vice-president, the treasurer and the secretary, and is 

responsible for following up council resolutions and action plans. 

All officers must be full-time PI students in good academic standing, and having completed three full semesters 

of study at the PI prior to their election. Elections for president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, chairmen of 

committees and Foundation Program representatives will be held every year before the end of September. 

The Student Council meets twice monthly or at special times upon a call by the president or vice-president. The 

Executive Council is encouraged to meet regularly with the President and Director of Student Affairs. 

Student Clubs 

Extra-curricular activities are an integral aspect of on-campus life at the Petroleum Institute. Students are 

encouraged to propose new clubs, participate in student-run activities, and become active members of our 

community. Current clubs include the Environmental Club (for men and women), Creativity Club (for men and 

women), Marine and Cultural Clubs (for men). 

The campus also houses several student professional chapters. 


I feel very fortunate and proud to be here 

and look forward to continuing my research 

career with the institute. 

Ghalib Al Mundaei Ghalib Al Afifi 

33 


Campus Facilities and Services 

Banking Services 

A branch of Abu Dhabi National Bank is located in the lobby of Habshan Building. In addition, there is an ATM at 

the lobby of the Arzanah and Ruwais buildings. 

Bulletin Boards 

Bulletin boards are available at the PI for posting informational notices. Student organizations and other groups 

should submit posters and other notices to the Student Affairs Office for approval. Notices may only be displayed 

on designated bulletin boards and for a period of time. No notices may be posted on glass doors or building walls. 

Communication and Writing Centers 

The Department was first established in 2002 and has developed over time into its present format in order to meet 

the needs of engineers who are required to be creative and critical professionals. Communication courses are 

English medium courses designed to meet the objectives of producing well rounded, articulate and autonomous 

life-long learners who are able to use higher order thinking and communication skills, required by twenty-first 

century professionals. 

The department’s philosophy is that L2 learners will best develop their language and communication skills through 

the acquisition and articulation of knowledge. Communications 101 and 151 courses focus on problem solving and 

collaborative learning in order to develop the following: 

• Oral and written communication 

• Critical thinking 

• Methods of acquiring knowledge 

• Academic, scientific and technical observations 

• Qualitative and quantitative analysis 

• Behavioral competencies 

The department will continue its pursuit of excellence and the development of courses that are informed by local 

and international research, and available to all members of the PI community and beyond. 

Computer Laboratories 

A number of computer labs are available on campus for student use. These can be used independently during free 

time. Students are advised to follow rules that apply to the use of these facilities. Food and drinks are not allowed 

in any computer lab. Programs should not be copied from any PI computers. 


Convenience Store 

ADNOC Oasis provides snacks, stationary and other necessities for the students. The store is located next to the 

mosque. 

Dining Services 

Meal coupons for breakfast, lunch & dinner are sold by the book by the Student Affairs Division. The contact 

person is: 

Mr. Ayad El Hajj 

Office: Habshan Building, Room 201 

Phone: 02-6075825 

Email: aelhajj@pi.ac.ae 

Meals are served in the dining facilities as follows: 

For female graduate students: Habshan Canteen (ext. 75789) 

For male graduate students: Satah Canteen (ext. 75545) 

Weekday Schedule: 

Breakfast 6:30 am – 9:00 am 

Lunch 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm 

Dinner 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm 

Weekend Schedule: 

Breakfast 7:00 am – 9:30 am 

Independent Learning Center (ILC) 

ILC provides content subject learning and English language learning materials for all PI students to support their 

coursework, assignments and research. Over the course of their academic studies at the PI, it assists students to 

develop as autonomous learners with the ability to identify their own learning needs. 

In order to support learning, the ILC: 

• provides users with functional, well-resourced environments that are conducive to group individual study, 

learning and research 

• provides users with collections of learning materials and the necessary guidance for their use 

• incorporates the use of technology and related educational software to facilitate each stage of learning 

within the programs 

• provides language support in the form of carefully identified self-access materials 

• provides users with essential reference materials 

35 


• incorporates the Math Learning Support Centre, which provides walk-in assistance by faculty Math 

specialists 

• incorporates the Science Tutoring Service, which provides Science tutoring by students for students 

There are two ILC locations on campus – one on the second floor of Bu Hasa Building and the second inside the 

Arzanah Library. 

Information Technology 

The Information Technology (IT) Department serves the computer-related administrative, instructional, technical, 

and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. It also provides PI’s gateway to the internet for academic 

purposes. Services provided include e-mail accounts and passwords, and wireless and local area networks. The 

Institute uses fiber-optic cables that interconnect the entire campus. 

E-mail Accounts: Upon registering at the PI an e-mail account will be established for each student. Students are 

required to use this account responsibly and in accordance with guidelines specified in the IT Policy Manual. All 

messages and attachments sent through the P.I. e-mail system should be of an academic nature. Messages of a 

culturally unacceptable nature are forbidden. Abuse of the e-mail system may lead to disciplinary action. 

Key Systems: CAMS is a student record system that holds student accounts, schedules and grade information. 

BlackBoard is a course management system with information on course materials, schedules. Adobe Connect 

allows remote graduate students to participate in classes. Horizon is our Library Management System. 

Library 

The Petroleum Institute Libraries are a premier regional information source for engineering, energy, materials 

and associated engineering and scientific fields; including select social sciences, humanities, general interest 

and leisure reading materials. The library’s collection includes more than 50,000 books; thousands of journals; 

hundreds of oil & gas field maps; multimedia materials and specialized Petroleum Institute archival materials. 

The Library Catalog provides access to the library holdings. Library users have access to many research databases 

and thousands of electronic journals and online books accessible from any campus network computer within The 

Petroleum Institute. An interlibrary loan service is provided to ensure materials are accessible from around the 

world via commercial document delivery centers. 

The Petroleum Institute Libraries enhance and support the university’s instructional and research programs with 

innovative services and relevant collections. The Petroleum Institute Libraries are designed to meet the learning, 

teaching and research needs of students and faculty. 

The Habshan Library occupies part of the ground floor and first floor of the male student campus. The Arzanah 

Library is located on the first floor of the Women in Science & Engineering Campus. The library maintains extensive 

daily operating hours including evenings and weekends. Each library offers inviting learning spaces which include 

an information commons area, quiet reading areas, group study rooms and instruction labs. Both libraries offer 


an environment conducive to individual study and collaborative work. Both facilities provide wireless access 

to support learning and research. Librarians provide personalized research support and hands-on information 

literacy skills instruction. The library is a critical resource within the campus and aims to collaborate with faculty, 

students and staff to achieve institutional goals. 

Lost and Found 

Lost and Found is available through the reception desks of each of the academic buildings. Students are encouraged 

to report any missing items as soon as possible. 

Mail Services 

The PI provides mail service on campus. Mail is distributed daily to all Institute offices by dedicated messengers. 

The Reception desk at each building handles all outgoing mail including courier services. All mail intended for 

Institute offices and for those residing on campus should be addressed to: 

The Petroleum Institute 

P. O. Box 2533 

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. 

Medical Clinic 

Students are entitled to use the on-campus ADNOC Clinic. If a student becomes sick while at the PI, the following 

procedure should be followed. The student completes a medical attendance form available from a counselor and 

then goes to the clinic for an examination. If the attending physician decides that a student is too sick to attend 

class, he/she may return home or to the hostel for rest. The medical attendance form should be returned to the 

counselor immediately after visiting the clinic. 

Mosque and Prayer Rooms 

For all male students, faculty and staff, a mosque is located near the center of campus. In addition, men’s prayer 

rooms are provided on the ground floor of Zarkuh, Bu Hasa and Ruwais buildings. 

For female students, faculty and staff, a women’s prayer room is located on the first floor of the Arzanah building 

(Room 114). 

Parking and Transportation (from/to Abu Dhabi City) 

Students who use their own cars to commute to campus are required to get a parking permit from Health, Safety 

and Environment department. Students must park in designated areas on campus and should take care when 

parking so as not to block other cars and observe “No Parking” signs. Students are urged to drive slowly and 

cautiously when entering and leaving parking areas and the campus vicinity. A city bus stop is also available 

outside the PI gates. 

37 


Buses are provided for transportation to and from the PI as follows: 

For Male Students (Trip timing: Reach PI at 8am, leave at 5pm) 

SN Area # Bus 

1 Khaleej Al Arab/Khalidiya/Al Nasser Street/Airport Road 14 

2 Passport Rd/Hamdan/Najda/Muroor 15 

3 Liwa Street/Khaleefa/Tourist Club Area/Salam Street 16 

For Female Students (Trip timing: Reach PI at 8am, leave at 5pm) 

SN Area # Bus 

1 Shahama/Bahiya/Sheleela/Rahba/Samha/Khalifa City 6 

2 Shawamek/Shamkha/ Al Falah 7 

3 Baniyas/Wathba/Askariya/Nahda/Musaffah 8 

4 Passport Road/Airport Road/Electra/Muroor9 9 

5 Khalidiya/Al Nasser/Bateen/Karama/Khaleej Al Arab 10 

6 Mina/Hamdan/Halifax/Electra/Airport/Passport/Salam 11 

Shuttle Bus: 

• Buses leaving from PI at 07:30 am and 10:00 am and 2:00 pm 

• Buses starting from Chamber of Commerce at 8:15 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm 

Intercampus Buses: 

• Between Arzanah and Habshan every 20 minutes 

• Between Asab and Arzanah every 30 minutes 

There are additional services as described below, which are carried out by using buses from the 

existing fleet: 

• Daily shuttle service between Asab (Asab, Habshan, Bu Hasa-Zarkuh) and the Female Campus(Arzanah): 

One trip every 15 minutes from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 

• Bus service for female students to attend lab sessions on the Male Campus and to attend gym at the Asab 

Sports Complex (frequency of use as per student schedule) 

• Daily trips to carry mail to ADNOC, OPCOS, banks, etc. at 9:00 am and 12:00 noon 

• Daily shuttle service between Arzanah-Habshan: One trip every 10 minutes from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 


Registry and Records 

A permanent record reflecting the academic achievements of each student who enrolls at the PI is maintained 

by the Office of the Registrar, located on the second floor of Habshan Building. Comprehensive student records 

contain information related to admission, transfer credit assessment, registration, disciplinary actions, academic 

assessment, progress towards degree, grade point average, and graduation. It is the responsibility of student to 

register for all classes and thesis research. 

Transcripts and Other Records: All transcripts and documents submitted from other institutions become the 

property of the Petroleum Institute, and, as such, come under control of the Office of the Registrar. The PI is not 

required to provide copies of these documents. Transcripts submitted to the PI for review of transfer credit also 

become the property of the PI and cannot be returned to the student or forwarded to other institutions. 

Release of Transcripts and Student Information: Students may obtain transcripts of their academic records 

at the PI from the Registrar’s Office. Transcripts will only be released after receipt of a signed Request for 

Transcript of Record Form and the required fees (20 Dhs. Per copy) from the student concerned. However, in case 

of sponsored students, sponsor’s prior approval is required release Transcript of Record. The PI will issue only 

complete transcripts, not parts of a student record. The PI will not make copies of transcripts on file from other 

schools. Information in a student’s file or about a student may be released to another party only with the written 

consent of the student or in order to comply with the order of a court or any other body with the authority to 

require the release of such information. 

39 


Sports Facilities and Recreation 

The current sports facilities (Asab Building) comprises of two gymnasiums, four indoor halls (volleyball, handball, 

basketball, and badminton), two studios (aerobics and martial arts), two indoor tennis courts, two squash courts 

and a grass football pitch. Regular intramural sports tournaments are organized, as are sailing and camping trips. 

There are clubs devoted to table tennis, table football and chess. 

Regular intramural sports tournaments are organized, including indoor soccer and basketball. 

Booking is done by email to: bookings@pi.ac.ae. All users are required to sign in and present their IDs. 

Personnel 

Yaaqoob Al Hammadi 

Phone: 02 607 5605 

Email: yalhammadi@pi.ac.ae 

Krishna Pillai Varadaraj 

Phone: 02 607 5667 

Email: kvaradaraj@pi.ac.ae 

Student Hostel 

Full time (FGR/TA & GR/TA) and visiting (VGR/TA) graduate students living outside the municipality of Abu Dhabi 

are entitled to an accommodation in one of the PI Hostel Buildings. Most of the hostels have been refurbished and 

are configured as double furnished rooms. Hostel rooms are shared with other fellow graduate students. 

On-campus students have wireless internet access. Scheduled laundry and cleaning services are also provided. 


You learn more than what textbooks offer 

as you acquire industry experience and a 

global outlook. 

Khalfan Mohamed Khalfan Al Marzouqi 

41 


Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) 

Vision 

The Petroleum Institute (PI) shall strive to achieve a safe campus that is in full compliance with all relevant Health, 

Safety and Environment (HSE) regulations and best practices. The PI will achieve an exemplary HSE performance 

and will be viewed as a model academic institution that is friendly to the environment and is a safe place to work, 

learn and conduct research. 

Policy 

The PI believes in protecting the health and safety of its students, employees and other stake holders, and in 

enhancing the environment. It will achieve these objectives by: 

• Providing a safe and healthy workplace 

• Minimizing both environmental pollution and the wastage of natural resources 

• Managing Health, Safety, and the Environment as a line responsibility with priority equal to that of any 

other institutional objective 

• Complying with the laws and statutes of the United Arab Emirates and ADNOC HSE policies, if necessary 

applying more stringent procedures 

• Ensuring all students and employees are aware of and abide by the PI HSE Policy and requiring that HSE 

is given a central role in all teaching, meetings, decisions, and other PI-related activities 

Commitments 

The PI shall: 

• Ensure no harm occurs to its students, staff, faculty, contractors and visitors 

• Minimize its environmental footprint 

• Use energy and resources efficiently in carrying out its activities 

• Manage HSE with the same importance as any other critical institutional activity 

• Ensure its students and employees obtain a high level of HSE awareness 

• Foster a sense of personal responsibility and commitment to HSE issues 

• Be transparent and open in the public reporting of the PI’s HSE performance 

• Encourage free reporting of HSE concerns 

• Appropriately acknowledge those that make significant contributions to improving workplace safety 


HSE Expectations 

• Cooperate during emergency fire drills. When you hear the fire alarm, it is mandatory to exit 

immediately and follow directions to the assembly point area and remain there till you have been given 

the clearance to return. The PI HSE Department conducts fire drills once each semester in all on-campus 

buildings. For more details on the fire evacuation procedure and fire marshal duties, please refer to 

http://www.pi.ac.ae/PI_INS/hse. 

• Know where the fire alarm activation points are. 

• Know at least 2 paths of exit to the assembly point. 

• Observe safety rules in laboratories and workshops. Any accidents/near miss/first aid cases must 

be reported immediately to the instructor or lab technician and to HSE Department at http://www.pi.ac. 

ae/PI_INS/hse. Each laboratory and workshop has its own appropriate safety protocols that must be 

followed at all times. 

• Get your parking permits and drive and park legally on campus. Campus speed limit is 20 km/h. 

Aggressive driving, speeding and illegal parking may result in your parking permit being revoked. Entry 

to and parking on campus requires parking permit decals. Any violation to the PI campus parking rules 

will result in the revoking of campus parking privileges. 

• Smoke only in designated areas. Note that the Arzanah Building (both indoors and outdoors) is 

smoke-free. 

• Conserve energy and water. Close external building doors if you see them open and turn off lights 

when not needed. Use water sparingly. 

• Know which number to call in an emergency (within PI: “0” or “75800” or “9-999”). 

• Report all HSE incidents (first aid cases, accidents, spills, hazards and hazardous conditions). If unsafe 

conditions, accidents/incidents of any kind, and near–misses are observed, then these should be reported 

to the instructor or hostel officer and to the HSE Office at http://www.pi.ac.ae/PI_INS/hse/hseTeam.php. 

• Make HSE an equally important job component. 

• Follow all HSE rules, procedures and best practices. 

• Accept responsibility for your actions. Disciplinary action may be taken against any member of the 

PI community who does not comply with PI HSE policies or knowingly performs unsafe acts or causes 

unsafe conditions to occur. 

43 


Important Contacts 

The Graduate School 

Name Position Email Ext. No 

Dr. Thomas Steuber 

Dean of the Graduate School 

(Acting) 

Office 

Location 

tsteuber@pi.ac.ae 75884 5-230 A 

Ms. Uzma Khan Graduate Studies Coordinator ukhan@pi.ac.ae 75936 

Mr. Ronaldo dela Paz Office Administrator rdelapaz@pi.ac.ae 75269 

5-230 

Graduate Council Members 

Department 

Graduate Committee 

Chair 

Applied Chemistry Dr. Avin Pillay apillay@Pi.ac.ae 75417 

Email Ext. No Office Location 

Bu 

Hasa-2005- 

Arzana-8279 

Chemical Engineering Dr. Fawzi Banat Fbanat@pi.ac.ae 75099 Bu Hasa-2212 

Electrical Engineering Dr. Ahmed Al Durra Aaldurra@pi.ac.ae 75511 Bu Hasa 2014 

HSE Engineering Dr. Clarence Rodrigues crodrigues@pi.ac.ae 75931 Habshan-5018 

Mechanical Engineering Dr. Fahad Almaskari falmaskari@pi.ac.ae 75577 Umm Shaif-3006 

Petroleum Engineering Dr. Mohammed Haroun Mharoun@pi.ac.ae 75326 Ruwais-3111 

Petroleum Geosciences Dr. Sandra Vega svega@pi.ac.ae 

75328 

75728 

Bu Hasa- 2235- 

Arzanah-8337 

Art & Science Dr. Ryan Fernandez rfernandes@pi.ac.ae 75274 Umm Shaif-4021 

Departments Contacts 


Department Name Email Ext. No Office Location 

Chemical Engineering 

Sibi Varghese 

Administration Assistant 

svarghese@pi.ac.ae 

75276 2-206 

Mohammed Masihuddin 

mmasihuddin@pi.ac.ae 

Electrical Engineering 

Business Administration 

75375 3-207 

Officer 

HSE Engineering Sreeja Unnithan sunnithan@pi.ac.ae 75932 5344 

Margarita Abedejos 

mabedejos@pi.ac.ae 

Mechanical Engineering 


75362 3-007 

Officer 

Petroleum Engineering 

Manissha Rao 

Administration Assistant 

mnrao@pi.ac.ae 

75366 3105 

Jovy Apolinar 

japolinar@pi.ac.ae 

Petroleum Geosciences 


75271 3208 

Officer 

Academic and Admin Support 

Directorate Department Email Ext. No 

Office 

Location 

Registrar’s Office ALLregistrar@pi.ac.ae 75864 5-201 

Academic 

Support 

Library – Habshan Building 

Library – Arzanah Building 

ALLlibrary@pi.ac.ae 

75802 

75895 

5-013 

Student Affairs ALLsa@pi.ac.ae 75873 5-315 

Information & Technology Helpdesk@pi.ac.ae 75793 5-118 

Finance ALLfinance@pi.ac.ae 75110 5-304 

Admin Support 

Human Resources 

(for graduate 

assistants) 

Employee 

Relations 

employeeRelationsteam@ 

75855 5-324 

pi.ac.ae 

Visa & Travel 75613 5-310 

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) ALLhse@pi.ac.ae 75932 5-338 

45 


The UAE and Abu Dhabi 

The UAE 

The United Arab Emirates is a progressive and diverse multi-cultural environment in which English is widely 

spoken, and knowledge of Arabic, although not essential, is recommended to maximize faculty members’ cultural 

experience. To address this need, the Institute periodically arranges Arabic classes for small groups. English is the 

language of instruction and the primary language of business at the Petroleum Institute. 

Emirate of Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi is the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates and the largest of the seven emirates. The Emirate 

lies on the borders with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. 

Abu Dhabi bursts with dazzling business-cum-leisure facilities ranging from state-of-the-art convention centres, 

luxurious hotels, spas, designer golf courses, theatres and very soon, some of the world’s most famous museums 

particularly Guggenheim and Louvre. The palace-like shopping malls and indigenous souqs in Abu Dhabi make 

for a great shopping expedition, offering the best handicraft from local Bedouins to the best of Paris’ or Milan’s 

high street fashion brands, sans the ubiquitous sales tax. Gastronomic treats further abound from cool and 

sophisticated cafes, clubs and restaurants. For the fitness conscious, jogging and cycling (or even skateboarding) 

are a welcome treat especially during the cooler months in the city’s charming corniche or beachfront, merely 

minutes away from the bustling city centre. 

For more information, please visit the following sites: 

http://www.abudhabi.ae 

http://www.exploreabudhabi.ae 


Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi 

47 


AIRPORT 

PI Location Map 

FROM 

ABU DHABI 

ZAYED BRIDGE 

UMM AL NAR 

TAKREER REFINERY 

AL RAHA 

SAS AL NAKHL 

FROM 

DUBAI 

THE PETROLEUM INSTITUTE 

Glenelg School 

AL MAQTA BRIDGE 

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB 

Fairmont Hotel 

ABU DHABI 

ISLAND 

IN BET WEEN 2 BRIDGES 

FROM 

AL AIN 

Shagri La Hotel 

Driving directions to the Petroleum Institute 

The Petroleum Institute is located on Airport Road approximately midway between Abu Dhabi center and the Abu 

Dhabi airport. 

Coming from downtown Abu Dhabi: 

To reach the Zarkuh building: take the first exit past Al Maqta Bridge, turn right from the traffic circle and 

continue along the access road under Al Maqta Bridge, continue past the dairy distributors and the Jaguar 

showroom. Enter either the parking lot adjacent to Airport Road or through the security gate. 

To reach the Habshan building: when you come from Abu Dhabi Salam street take the Corniche road and go 

straight for about 20 km. When you get to the Sheikh Zayed Bridge, follow the Sas Al Nakhl sign boards. Before 

leaving the Sheikh Zayed Bridge take the right exit. You will get to a roundabout. Take the 1st exit right on the 

roundabout. You can see the grey Petroleum Institute Habshan Building. 

Coming from Dubai: 

To reach the Zarkuh building: take the first exit (after passing the Institute campus on your right) onto the 

service road; continue past the dairy distributors (Milco). Enter either the parking lot adjacent to Airport Road or 

through the security gate. 

To reach the Habshan building: when you come from Dubai take Sheikh Zayed road and go straight, after 

approximately 100 km you will get to Shahama and then Al Raha. After passing Al Raha beach you have to take 

the Sas Al Nakhl exit just before getting onto the Sheikh Zayed Bridge. On the roundabout take the 4th exit on 

the roundabout. You can see the grey Petroleum Institute Habshan Building. 


PI Campus Map 

The Petroleum Institute Campus Map 

Takreer 

P 

Umm Al Nar 

Roundabout 

Dubai 

P 

Entrance Gate 

Masdar 

H 

H 

5 

26 Delma 25 Jarneen 

H 

6 

4 

32 Budana 

H 

24 Abalbokhoush 

H 

23Al Bundouq 

P 

Entrance Gate 

P 

3 

H 

H 

Takreer 

Research Center 

PI 

Research Center 

Entrance Gate 

2 

1 

31Heil 

H 

21 Umaldalkh 

H 

0 200meter 

Abu Dhabi 

P 

Building 

1 Zarkuh (Classes, Cafeteria) 

6 

Arzanah 

(Women in Science and Engineering) 

H 

Student Housing 

2 

3 

4 

Bu’Hasa (Classes, Labs, Student Council Center, ILC) 

Ruwais (Classes, Labs) 

Umm Shaif (Classes) 

PIRC 

(Takreer Research Center) 

Satah 

(Student Dining Hall) 

P 

Clinic 

Mosque 

Parking 

5 

Habshan (Management, SAD, Counseling, Housing & 

Recreation, Library, Registrar, Admissions, Finance and IT) 

Asab 

(Sports Complex) 

Restaurant 

49 


The Petroleum Institute 

P.O. Box 2533 | Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates 

Phone: +971 2 6075936 

Fax: +971 2 6075200 

http://www.pi.ac.ae

GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK - 2013 - The Petroleum Institute

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