Dubai: According to the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, more than 44 academic programmes related to AI are now being offered across the UAE’s higher education landscape. Leading this charge is the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), which has quickly earned global recognition for its cutting-edge research and academic excellence since its founding in 2019.
According to CSRankings, MBZUAI is among the world’s top 10 universities in core AI fields such as computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing. The university offers 13 postgraduate programmes and recently launched a bachelor’s degree with specialisations in Business and Engineering. Emirati students account for 17% of enrolments, and women make up 31%, reflecting the UAE’s focus on inclusion.
The university has also emerged as a hub for innovation, hosting over 1,200 conference presentations and publishing more than 2,200 journal articles. Its AI research includes the development of K2, a 65-billion-parameter large language model, and Jais, the most downloaded Arabic-language LLM to date.
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Starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, AI will be formally introduced across UAE public schools from kindergarten through Grade 12. The curriculum will focus on seven key areas: foundational AI concepts, data and algorithms, software tools, ethics, real-world applications, innovation and project design, and community engagement.
Multiple universities have launched AI-related degrees, including:
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: Bachelor’s in Mathematics with a Data Science for AI track
Abu Dhabi University and Ajman University: Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence
Khalifa University: Bachelor’s in Robotics and AI
American University of Sharjah: Established a dedicated AI Centre
The AI education push is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to:
Position the nation as a global hub for AI innovation and regulation
Transform sectors like education, healthcare, and transportation
Develop national talent and stimulate high-tech employment
Build a resilient and diversified digital economy
