Over 44 AI Programs Now Offered Across UAE’s Universities
The UAE has taken a bold leap forward by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) education at every level of learning — starting from kindergarten all the way to doctoral programs. With this move, the country is building a future-ready generation equipped with digital skills and innovation capabilities.
According to the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, more than 44 academic programs focused on AI are now being offered across higher education institutions in the UAE.
🎓 MBZUAI: A Global Leader in AI Education
At the heart of this movement is the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), launched in 2019. In just a few years, the university has gained global recognition for its contributions to AI research and education.
Ranked among the top 10 universities worldwide in fields like machine learning, computer vision, NLP, robotics, and computational biology (as per CSRankings), MBZUAI now offers 13 Master’s and PhD programs, and as of 2025, an undergraduate degree with Business and Engineering specialisations.
With students from 39+ countries, including 17% Emiratis and 31% women, MBZUAI has already graduated over 300 AI specialists, with nearly 80% joining the UAE’s growing AI industry.
🚀 Innovation Beyond Classrooms
MBZUAI isn’t just an academic institution — it’s a launchpad for innovation. In 2023, it established the Mohamed bin Zayed Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, nurturing AI startups and research.
Some of its key achievements include:
K2: A 65-billion parameter Arabic language model
Jais: The most downloaded Arabic LLM
Centers for Integrative AI & Metaverse Research
Over 1,200 conference papers and 2,200+ journal publications
🏛️ AI Programs Expanding Nationwide
AI-focused degrees are becoming mainstream across UAE universities:
Sorbonne Abu Dhabi: BSc in Mathematics with AI Data Science track
Abu Dhabi University: BSc in Artificial Intelligence
Khalifa University: BSc in Robotics and AI
Ajman University: BSc in Artificial Intelligence
American University of Sharjah: AI Research Centre established
📚 AI in K–12 Schools Starts 2025
From the 2025–2026 academic year, AI will become part of the national curriculum for public schools — starting from kindergarten to grade 12.
The curriculum will cover 7 key areas:
AI foundations
Data & algorithms
Software tools
Ethical AI principles
Real-world applications
Innovation & design thinking
Public policy & community engagement
🌍 Vision 2071: Building a Digitally Empowered UAE
This educational transformation is aligned with the UAE Centennial 2071 Vision, focused on long-term sustainable development, digital transformation, and economic diversification.
Strategic AI goals include:
Positioning UAE as a global AI leader
Digitally transforming healthcare, education, and transportation
Building local AI talent and innovation ecosystems
Boosting tech-driven employment and economic growth
📌 Why It Matters
By embedding AI into every stage of education, the UAE is not just preparing students — it’s designing a society powered by digital thinking. This holistic model of AI education, from early learning to cutting-edge research, serves as a blueprint for the rest of the Gulf and beyond.
AI for GCC will continue to track these developments, spotlighting how nations across the region are shaping the future with artificial intelligence.