Research Interests
Building Datasets for Training AI Models
Applied Machine Learning
Natural Language Processing
Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence
Embedded Files
Highlights
3rd place at the World Police Summit 2025 for Best Artificial Intelligence Implementation in Policing, recognizing her excellence in applying AI to critical security domains.
Top 2% Researchers in the World According to Stanford/Elsevier List - 2024
Brief
Dr. Sanaa Kaddoura is a builder of AI-driven solutions, leveraging large language models (LLMs) and machine learning to solve real-world challenges across cybersecurity, social protection, and sustainability. Her work translates cutting-edge research into deployable systems that support public institutions, industry partners, and communities across the Arabic-speaking world.
She is a champion of open innovation, creating open-source Arabic datasets that power language technology solutions adopted by researchers, startups, and government agencies. Her commitment to applied impact is evident in achievements such as mentoring a student team whose intrusion detection system was selected by the UAE Ministry of Defense for national deployment.
In 2025, Dr. Kaddoura was awarded 3rd place at the World Police Summit for Best Artificial Intelligence Implementation in Policing, recognizing her excellence in applying AI to critical security domains.
She has been named among the Top 2% of researchers worldwide (Stanford/Elsevier 2024), serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE, is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and is a member of the Cyber Pulse Initiative for Women and Families, supported by the UAE Cybersecurity Council.
Her mission is to drive ethical, efficient, and context-aware AI innovation, empowering both the private and public sectors in the Arabic-speaking world.
Education
Ph.D. in Computer Science
Dissertation: Damage Assessment and Recovery from Malicious Attacks for Defensive Information Warfare.
M.Sc. in Information Science
Thesis: An Effective Approach for Linking Semantic Social Networks.
B.S. in Computer Science (Class rank: 1st)
Earned Jamal Abdel Nasser Award for Academic Distinction.
Academic Experience
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Zayed University
August 2024-Present
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Zayed University
2019-July 2024
Instructor of Math and Computer Science
Zayed University
2016-2019
Computer Science Laboratory Instructor
Beirut Arab University
2008-2015
Quality Assurance Admin Assistant/ABET Accreditation
Beirut Arab University
2008-2015
Industry Experience
System Administrator
Horizon Private School - Abu Dhabi Branch
2015-2016
Computer/Mathematics Teacher
UNRWA
2011-2015
Data Entry Operator
UNRWA
2012
Team Leader and IT Engineer - Remote Worker
OBA School LTD
2013-2014
IGCSE-ICT Instructor - Remote Worker
OBA School LTD
2012-2013
Web Developer
Semanoor International
2008-2009
Research and Academic Volunteering Appointments
Fellow, Advance HE
Honors & Awards
3rd place at the World Police Summit 2025 for Best Artificial Intelligence Implementation in Policing, recognizing her excellence in applying AI to critical security domains.
Top 2% Researchers in the World According to Stanford/Elsevier List, 2024.
Exceeds Expectations rating in the 2023 Annual Faculty Evaluation at Zayed University, an honor awarded to only three faculty members.
Woman Leader in ICT Excellence Award Issued by the 25th Global Women Leaders Conference, organized by The Middle East Excellence Awards Institute.
Young Woman Researcher in Computer Science Award in the 8th Venus International Women Awards, VIWA (2023).
Best Teaching Assistant Award for outstanding performance in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Faculty of Science at Beirut Arab University (2013).
Jamal Abdel Nasser Award for Academic Distinction for graduating first in class in a bachelor's degree (2008).
Research Funds
07/2024 - 12/ 2024 PI for 8K AED fund from Zayed University. An Automated Tool for Detecting Fake News in Arabic Social Media
11/2022 - 11/ 2023 PI for 245K AED fund from the UAE Ministry of Education/Mohamad Bin Rashed Smart Learning Program.
Automated Scrapping Tool for Mapping University Offering with Industry Skills-Demand for Data Science Job
09/2022 - 03/2024 PI for 100K AED Research Incentive Fund (RIF Grant) from Zayed University/UAE.
Word Sense Disambiguation for Arabic Natural Language Processing
11/2020 - 05/2022 PI for 200K AED Research Incentive Fund (RIF Grant) from Zayed University/UAE.
Lockdown Exam Management System (LEMS)
11/2020 - 10/2021 PI for 30K AED Start-up Grant from Zayed University/UAE.
Natural Language Processing Approach for Link-Less Spear Fishing Emails Detection
09/2022 - 03/2023 Co-PI for 300K AED Research Incentive Fund (RIF Grant) from Zayed University/UAE.
Ransomware Offenders: Pathways into and out of the Crime
News
05/2025
Awarded 3rd Place at the World Police Summit for Best Artificial Intelligence Implementation in Policing
09/2024
Among Top 2% Researchers in the world according to Stanford/Elsevier List - 2024
12/2023
Published a CXO article at Insight Success entitled "Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Career Growth".
05/2023
Check out my recent interview with Insights Success entitled "Combining Expertise in AI and Education to Drive Impact and Change" in the theme of: "The Most Admired Women in Education Sector".
03/2023
I received the Middle East Women Leaders Excellence Award for my contributions in research and teaching over the past few years
02/2023
Check out my recent interview with The Education View under the theme title: "The inspiring Education Leaders in UAE 2023".
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