Khaula Alkaabi is a Professor of Geography and Urban Sustainability at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), specializing in transportation and land use planning, spatial analysis, GIS applications, drone technology, smart cities, and innovation. She holds a BA from UAEU, an MA and PhD from UNCG, USA, and a Public Sector Innovation Diploma from the University of Cambridge, UK. She previously served as Chair of the Geography Department (2013–2017) and Chief Innovation Officer at UAEU (2015–2022). Prof. Alkaabi has published extensively in leading international journals and academic books, contributing to geospatial research, innovation, and policy development.