Doctoral Research advances the Climate Resilience of UAE Artificial Islands at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

Within the historic halls of Sorbonne University, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious centres of higher learning, doctoral candidate Dr. Walid Mekni successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on 24 June 2026 before an international jury of distinguished professors and researchers. The defence marked the culmination of a scientific journey that began in October 2022, representing nearly four years of multidisciplinary research dedicated to one of the Gulf region’s most significant environmental and engineering challenges. 

Conducted under the Doctoral School of Geography of Paris (ED434), the doctoral research was carried out under the supervision of Professor Kosmas Pavlopoulos, Director of the Thesis. The defence was chaired by Professor Denis Mercier, President of the Jury, who led the scientific evaluation of the dissertation. The examination also included the remote participation of Professor Maria Menegaki from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, reflecting the international character of the doctoral evaluation. The defence was further honoured by the presence of Professor Nader Masmoudi, internationally renowned mathematician, Professor at New York University and recipient of the prestigious Fermat Prize, who attended the defence as an honoured guest. 

Entitled “Geotechnical Resilience of Artificial Islands in the UAE under Climate Change: Long-Term Projections and Monitoring Perspectives,” the dissertation of Dr. Walid Mekni presents one of the most comprehensive investigations undertaken into the interaction between projected climate change and reclaimed calcareous sands forming the foundation of artificial islands. Rather than examining isolated engineering phenomena, the study integrates geography, geotechnical engineering, environmental sciences and Earth observation technologies into a unified scientific framework capable of evaluating how future environmental conditions may progressively influence reclaimed coastal infrastructure over the coming decades. 

Research Supported by International Scientific Collaboration 

The doctoral research was undertaken through an international scientific collaboration involving Sorbonne University, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, New York University Abu Dhabi, the SAFIR Research Institute at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the Médiations – Sciences des lieux, sciences des liens research laboratory in Paris, and the SHORES Centre at New York University Abu Dhabi. Bringing together expertise in geography, geotechnical engineering, coastal processes, environmental sciences, satellite remote sensing, physical modelling and numerical simulations, the collaboration reflects the growing importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in addressing the engineering challenges associated with climate change. 

This collaboration enabled the integration of complementary scientific capabilities ranging from advanced laboratory experimentation and large-scale geotechnical centrifuge modelling to satellite-based Earth observation, environmental monitoring and predictive numerical analysis, establishing a multidisciplinary framework capable of supporting evidence-based coastal planning and long-term infrastructure resilience. 

Research Granted Support through the European Space Agency Copernicus Mission and the SAFIR Research Institute 

An important milestone of the project was the international research support obtained during the doctoral programme. The research received funding from the SAFIR Research Institute at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, supporting key components of the experimental and numerical investigations undertaken throughout the study. 

The research also received support through the European Space Agency (ESA) via the Network of Resources (NoR) programme supporting the Copernicus Earth Observation Mission, providing access to advanced satellite resources that formed a fundamental component of the remote sensing investigations. The integration of Copernicus satellite observations significantly strengthened the InSAR monitoring methodology developed during the doctoral research and contributed to the proposed long-term monitoring framework for artificial islands. 

Artificial islands have become internationally recognised symbols of the United Arab Emirates’ engineering excellence, economic diversification and visionary coastal development. From world-famous coastal developments to strategic residential communities, tourism destinations and critical infrastructure, reclaimed islands contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth and long-term development strategy. As climate change accelerates, however, ensuring the resilience of these developments has become an increasingly important scientific priority. 

The resilience of artificial islands also carries strategic significance for the energy sector. A substantial share of the region’s offshore and coastal infrastructure supporting oil and gas production depends on the structural stability of reclaimed land, meaning that safeguarding these islands against climate-related degradation is, in effect, a safeguard for the continuity and security of energy production. 

To address this challenge, Dr. Walid Mekni combined advanced laboratory investigations, geotechnical centrifuge physical modelling, finite-element numerical simulations and satellite-based InSAR monitoring within a single integrated scientific methodology. Laboratory observations were supported by sophisticated engineering models and validated through Earth observation technologies, enabling a comprehensive understanding of both present conditions and future projections. 

One of the research’s most significant findings challenges a long-standing engineering assumption regarding the future behaviour of reclaimed islands. Rather than predicting uniform degradation throughout the reclaimed landmass, the investigation demonstrates that climate-induced alteration follows a distinct geographical signature. The highest levels of long-term degradation are concentrated near exposed coastal boundaries, whereas the interior core of the island remains comparatively protected owing to the natural buffering behaviour of carbonate materials. This discovery provides a more refined understanding of climate-related geotechnical risk and establishes a scientific basis for targeted monitoring strategies instead of uniform intervention across entire reclaimed developments. 

Beyond identifying future risks, the doctoral research proposes an integrated monitoring framework centred on the concept of a Digital Twin for artificial islands. The proposed framework combines satellite observations, laboratory investigations, field measurements and predictive engineering models into a continuously updated decision-support platform capable of monitoring infrastructure performance throughout its operational life. 

Completed over the period from October 2022 to June 2026, the research reflects nearly four years of laboratory experimentation, advanced numerical modelling, satellite observations, physical modelling and interdisciplinary collaboration between leading academic institutions in France and the United Arab Emirates. The successful doctoral defence on 24 June 2026 at the historic Sorbonne University represents the culmination of this scientific effort and contributes new knowledge to the international discussion on climate-resilient coastal infrastructure.  

The successful defence of Dr. Walid Mekni therefore represents more than an individual academic milestone. Conducted under the supervision of Professor Kosmas Pavlopoulos, evaluated by an international jury chaired by Professor Denis Mercier, and enriched by the participation of internationally recognised scholars including Professor Maria Menegaki and Professor Zoubeir Lafhaj, the research illustrates the strengthening scientific collaboration between internationally recognised universities and research institutes. By integrating geography, engineering and Earth observation technologies into a single multidisciplinary framework, the dissertation provides new knowledge that may contribute to the future resilience of artificial islands, supporting evidence-based master planning and long-term monitoring strategies for strategic coastal infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. 

The official jury report highlighted the outstanding quality of the doctoral defence, commending the clarity and pedagogical quality of the presentation as well as the comprehensive scientific methodology, spanning satellite Earth observation, laboratory investigations, physical and numerical modelling. Following only a brief deliberation, the international jury unanimously congratulated Dr. Walid Mekni on the scientific rigour of the research, his excellent command of the subject, the quality of his responses during the examination, and his broad scientific expertise.