Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, commonly known as MBZUAI, is a public research university in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2019, it was created as part of the UAE’s broader effort to develop national capabilities in artificial intelligence and to position the country as an international center for AI research, education, and application. The university is named after Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi when the institution was established and later became President of the United Arab Emirates. MBZUAI initially differentiated itself from conventional universities by concentrating on graduate-level, research-based education in artificial intelligence. Its principal academic areas include machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, computer science, and statistics and data science. The institution later expanded beyond its original graduate focus: its first undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence with engineering and business tracks, was introduced in 2025. The university received accreditation for six graduate programs from the UAE Ministry of Education in February 2020 and obtained its university license in April of the same year. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of its initial cohort from the planned autumn 2020 intake to January 2021. The first classes were delivered online, with the first in-person teaching beginning in autumn 2021. The opening cohort consisted of 78 students, including 13 doctoral students and 65 master’s students, supported by 11 faculty members. The first master’s students graduated in January 2023. MBZUAI’s model is designed to attract international students and researchers through a full scholarship package for eligible graduate students. The package includes a monthly stipend, health insurance, and accommodation in return for full-time study and research. The university has recruited faculty and researchers from institutions around the world and has built an international student body. The 2024 intake included 209 students from 36 countries, while the institution reported 84 faculty members and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers and other researchers in 2025. Research is organized around AI’s contribution to public services, industrial and manufacturing productivity, emerging high-value sectors, and environmental sustainability. The university operates research centers and hubs covering foundation models, integrative AI, the metaverse, and digital public health. It also supports technology transfer and applied research through an incubator and a joint laboratory with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority. Among its most visible projects is Jais, an Arabic large language model developed with partners for applications including government administration. MBZUAI also serves professionals and organizations through executive education. It launched a 12-week executive program in 2021 for leaders responsible for implementing AI in their organizations, with the first participant cohort graduating in 2022. Its campus in Masdar City includes teaching, research, residential, and recreational facilities and is integrated into the district’s low-carbon, technology-oriented urban environment. The university’s strategic role extends beyond degree education. It is intended to help establish a domestic AI talent base, support public-sector modernization, encourage industrial innovation, and strengthen the UAE’s international research networks. Its partnerships include a joint AI research program with Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. MBZUAI remains an active institution whose academic portfolio and research infrastructure continue to expand.

MBZUAI emerged from the UAE’s national strategy for artificial intelligence, a policy agenda intended to make the country a significant global participant in AI research and deployment by 2031. The university was initiated in October 2019 and established in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, a planned sustainable development positioned as a center for technology, research, and innovation. Its creation formed part of a wider state effort that also included the appointment of the UAE’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. The institution was named after Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During its establishment phase, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber chaired the Board of Trustees, while Omar Al Olama chaired the advisory board. The university initially adopted a deliberately specialized model: rather than offering a broad range of undergraduate disciplines, it concentrated on advanced graduate education and research in artificial intelligence. This focus was intended to attract international students and prominent researchers to the UAE and to create a domestic pool of highly trained AI specialists. The UAE Ministry of Education accredited six MBZUAI graduate programs in February 2020 and issued the university license in April 2020. The first coursework was originally planned for autumn 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay until January 2021. The inaugural class comprised 78 students—13 PhD candidates and 65 master’s students—in machine learning and computer vision. Eleven faculty members supported the initial cohort. Because of pandemic restrictions, early classes were delivered remotely through Moodle and related online arrangements. In-person instruction began in autumn 2021, after which the university continued to develop classrooms capable of supporting hybrid teaching. The first master’s students graduated in January 2023. The institution subsequently broadened its academic structure, adding or formalizing work in robotics, computer science, and statistics and data science. By 2024, it had recruited at least 25 additional faculty members beyond its original team. MBZUAI also introduced a professional education stream: a 12-week executive program launched in October 2021 for leaders responsible for implementing AI, with its first participants completing the program in March 2022. Research has remained central to the university’s identity. Its stated research priorities include improving public and private services, raising efficiency and productivity in industry and manufacturing, supporting emerging high-value economic sectors, and advancing environmental sustainability. MBZUAI created specialist research centers and hubs for foundation models, integrative AI, the metaverse, and digital public health. It also established an incubator and a joint laboratory with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority to connect research with government-service initiatives. A notable project is Jais, an Arabic large language model coordinated by MBZUAI with partners and intended for uses that include Emirati government administration. The university also maintains a joint AI research program with Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. MBZUAI’s campus is located in Masdar City and incorporates the district’s emphasis on sustainable urban design. Transportation around the campus includes electric buses and golf carts. Facilities include classrooms, research areas, residential accommodation, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and squash and badminton courts. Early classrooms were redesigned to accommodate remote and hybrid instruction and more flexible teaching arrangements. Graduate students have generally been offered comprehensive scholarship support, including stipends, health insurance, and accommodation, subject to the requirements of full-time study and research. This model is intended to compete for talent that might otherwise choose established research centers in North America, Europe, or East Asia. The 2024 intake included 209 students from 36 countries, with 147 master’s students and 62 doctoral students; women accounted for 31 percent of that intake. By 2024, 212 students had graduated from the master’s and doctoral programs. In March 2025, MBZUAI introduced its first undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence with engineering and business options. This represented a significant evolution from its original graduate-only structure while preserving its emphasis on AI specialization.

• 2025

  First undergraduate program introduced

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  MBZUAI launched a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence with engineering and business tracks.

• 2023

  First master’s graduates

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  The institution’s first master’s cohort completed its studies and graduated.

• 2021

  Graduate education begins

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  The first cohort began study in January after a pandemic-related delay, initially through online instruction.

• 2021

  First in-person classes held

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  Face-to-face teaching began in autumn 2021 as pandemic restrictions eased.

• 2021

  Executive education launched

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  MBZUAI introduced a 12-week program for leaders applying AI in organizations.

• 2020

  Graduate programs accredited and university licensed

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  The Ministry of Education accredited six graduate programs in February and issued MBZUAI’s university license in April.

• 2019

  University initiated in Abu Dhabi

  [1]Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org

  MBZUAI was initiated in October as part of the UAE’s national strategy to build leadership in artificial intelligence.

Public, research-intensive AI university focused on advanced talent development, international research, and practical applications for government, industry, and society.

• Graduate education · 2021

  Master’s programs

  MBZUAI’s master’s degrees provide advanced, research-oriented training in AI-related disciplines. The university’s academic scope includes machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, computer science, and statistics and data science. The programs are designed for full-time study and are supported by research activity, laboratory work, and faculty supervision.

• Doctoral education · 2021

  PhD programs

  The university’s doctoral programs focus on original research in artificial intelligence and adjacent computational fields. Doctoral students work with faculty and research groups on topics that can include foundational methods, language technologies, vision, robotics, data science, and applied AI. The program is part of MBZUAI’s effort to develop high-level researchers for academia, government, and industry.

• Undergraduate education · 2025

  Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence

  Introduced in 2025, the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence is MBZUAI’s first undergraduate offering. It expands the university’s original graduate-only model and includes engineering and business pathways, giving students an earlier entry point into AI education while retaining the institution’s specialized focus.

• Executive education · 2021

  Executive Program

  The Executive Program is a 12-week course for leaders who need to understand and implement artificial intelligence within their organizations. It extends MBZUAI’s role beyond degree education by addressing managerial, strategic, and applied questions involved in adopting AI in public- and private-sector settings.

• Large language model research

  Jais

  Jais is an Arabic large language model developed through a research effort coordinated by MBZUAI and its partners. The project addresses Arabic-language AI capability and has been associated with potential government and administrative applications in the UAE.

• 2025

  Expand from graduate education into undergraduate AI educationStrategy

  Background

  MBZUAI was initially established as a specialized graduate and research institution focused on advanced AI disciplines.

  Action taken

  The university introduced its first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, with engineering and business pathways.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened MBZUAI’s educational portfolio while maintaining its concentration on artificial intelligence.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch executive education for AI implementation leadersOther

  Background

  Organizations in government and industry required leadership-level expertise to translate AI research into operational programs.

  Action taken

  MBZUAI launched a 12-week executive program for leaders responsible for implementing AI in their organizations.

  Aftermath

  The first participant cohort graduated in 2022, extending the university’s reach beyond conventional degree students.

  Source

1. 1Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligenceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence official websitembzuai.ac.ae