By Reema Tarek<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cars drive past in steady streams, their engines humming, their tires gliding across asphalt so smoothly that it feels effortless. Few drivers stop to think about the invisible calculations behind them. For Youssef El Atawi, those calculations are never invisible. They are responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we spoke, El Atawi sat comfortably in a beige oversized shirt and matching sweatpants, a look that balanced ease with quiet confidence. His dark beard framed a focused expression, and his posture carried the build of someone disciplined. He is visibly strong, broad shouldered and athletic, the kind of physique that does not happen accidentally. The gym, he later explained, is where he releases pressure after long days of road design and stressful deadlines. As he spoke about his career, he used his hands naturally, sketching invisible road curves in the air as if still drafting on a screen or drawing on a paper. He often paused before answering, thinking carefully, then responded with assurance. Even in silence, there was confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At his desk in Dubai, digital road networks stretch across his screen in grids of lines and measurements. Each line will eventually carry thousands of people every day. \u201cIf the work isn\u2019t good, you need to do better,\u201d he said. \u201cYou will be asked to redo it until it is perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spring 2019 graduate from the American University of Sharjah, El Atawi now works as a highway design engineer in one of the region\u2019s fastest growing cities, Dubai. His journey from university classrooms to designing complex road systems reflects discipline, patience and precision. His interest in engineering began with something simple. He loved to draw. Architecture once seemed like the obvious path, but he chose civil engineering for its long-term stability. Selecting AUS was intentional. \u201cIt has a strong reputation,\u201d he said. \u201cMany companies still talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What began as a practical choice evolved into a passion. During his time at AUS, Professor Akmal Abd Al Fatah\u2019s highways course reshaped his vision. Under his guidance, El Atawi completed a senior design project analyzing road networks and proposing solutions. As he described that project, his hands moved again, outlining intersections midair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe made me fall in love with highway engineering,\u201d he said. \u201cThe project opened my mind to visualize and to think outside the box.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduation, however, did not remove uncertainty. He paused before admitting, \u201cNothing prepares you for the real world.\u201d University, he said, was only a \u201ctrailer\u201d for what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Middle East, civil engineering deadlines are intense. Projects move quickly and expectations are high, which is why new engineers often struggle with the pace. El Atawi believes AUS unknowingly prepared him in a way nowhere else could. The demanding coursework and constant submissions built resilience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe stress of real deadlines didn\u2019t feel as overwhelming,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His first job required humility. He had to master specialized software, review technical manuals and learn regional design codes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou might know the theory,\u201d he said, pausing again before finishing, \u201cbut you must follow the code perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike university assignments, professional errors carry real consequences. Roads are not abstract concepts. They carry families, workers and entire communities. Every calculation affects safety. That weight shows in the way he speaks about responsibility, shoulders squared, voice steady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After graduation, El Atawi completed his military service, an experience that strengthened his patience. During the interview, he emphasized the importance of patience in the field as engineering projects demand coordination with clients, consultants and authorities, each with distinct expectations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are dealing with different personalities,\u201d he said. \u201cYou must stay professional.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, perfectionism remains one of his biggest challenges. \u201cI try to complete my work to the utmost,\u201d he said. \u201cBut sometimes we don\u2019t have time for that level of perfection.\u201d That is where balance becomes essential. His athletic build reflects routine discipline, not just aesthetic choice. The gym is not a hobby. It is a strategy. It allows him to reset mentally and physically after navigating high pressure environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs I continue to grow, the responsibilities grow with me,\u201d he said. For current engineering students, his advice is practical and straightforward. Grades matter, but they are not everything. \u201cExperience helps you become socially aware,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need that skill in the real world.\u201d He also emphasizes mental health. \u201cYou cannot do anything without good mental health,\u201d he said. \u201cDo not take pressure or comments to heart. You will be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, as Dubai continues expanding, El Atawi\u2019s designs quietly shape daily life. Drivers may never know his name. They may never notice the calculated slope of an exit ramp or the seamless merge of lanes, but beneath every smooth commute lies thought, discipline and intention. In a city built on ambition, engineers like El Atawi ensure that growth rests on a solid foundation. Every line he draws carries more than traffic. It carries responsibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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