"Everything in life is doable" - this simple yet powerful phrase reflects Dr. Hakim Abdulrab's approach to life. Raised in Taiz, Yemen, a bustling city famous for its Mocha coffee production, Hakim Abdulrab developed a strong sense of perseverance and self-motivation, which have guided him throughout his academic journey. 

"I have always been self-motivated, earning scholarships throughout my academic journey," he recalls.

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Hakim Abdulrab grew up in a humble family. As a top student in his city, he was awarded a scholarship by the Yemeni government to study abroad after high school. In 2009, he joined Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Mechatronics Engineering.

"In Yemen, Malaysia is perceived as a leading country in engineering education," he reflects on his decision to study there.

Graduating with dean’s list honors throughout his undergraduate years, Hakim Abdulrab began his academic career as an assistant lecturer at Taiz University, where he taught for two years. Later, to further his academic journey, he returned to UTM for his master's studies and completed his PhD at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP).

Hakim Abdulrab's research mainly focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), optimization techniques, and metaheuristic algorithms. When asked about his interest in AI, one of today's most popular fields, he laughed and said, "My journey was driven towards AI without me knowing it."

Subjects like mathematics and physics have attracted Hakim Abdulrab since high school. Initially, he planned to study chemical engineering, but after receiving guidance from postgraduate seniors, he shifted to mechatronics, where he began exploring AI and robotics.

His efforts paid off. Shortly after earning his PhD, Hakim Abdulrab joined XMUM as a lecturer in the Artificial Intelligence (AIT) programme under the School of Electrical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence.

Hakim Abdulrab has a deep appreciation for the XMUM community. "The management, team, staff, and colleagues are all nice and cooperative," he shares. "I feel like I am in a place where I really want to be."

"The students at XMUM are very nice and respectful. My first class went smoothly, and I was happy."

While AIT is often perceived as a highly technical course, Hakim Abdulrab ensures his students enjoy the learning process and effectively absorb knowledge. "First, I need to teach them the fundamentals because, in AI, every algorithm is mathematically based," he explains. "I always try to relate concepts to real-life phenomena so they can grasp the idea behind them."

Hakim Abdulrab's proficiency in teaching is rooted in experience. During his postgraduate studies, he was required to teach as part of his scholarship, which helped him build a strong foundation for his academic career. This also prepared him for the diverse cultural environment at XMUM, where students come from various backgrounds.

In his classroom, Hakim Abdulrab encourages students to approach learning with confidence and perseverance. "If you think something is difficult, it will always feel that way. It's all about perspective." He always tells them, "You just need to start. Once you start, you can finish. Everything in life is doable."

Hakim Abdulrab dedicates approximately six hours to preparing for a two-hour class, believing that knowledge cannot be effectively conveyed by simply reading from slides. He emphasizes the importance of keeping course materials up-to-date: "I develop some of the material myself and add extra knowledge because AI is always evolving."

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Apart from teaching, Hakim Abdulrab remains active in research. Currently, he is applying for external grants and seeking collaboration with academics from other regions. His research goal is to design algorithms that can be adapted flexibly to other fields. "Optimization plays a key role in daily applications such as language translation, face recognition, and GPS navigation."

He also encourages students to pursue research in AI-based projects, particularly those involving optimization algorithms or robotics, as there is still significant room for development in Malaysia.

Beyond academic life, Hakim Abdulrab stays active through sports, especially jogging, badminton, and football. Playing with friends helps him stay physically healthy and energized for his work.

He hopes his students take away this key message: "Look at things in a simple way. Don’t complicate things." He adds, "This doesn’t mean working less - work hard, but believe that you can do it. Don’t give up halfway."