Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially launched the UAE national Agentic AI programme. This new initiative aims to significantly advance the country's capabilities in developing and deploying agentic artificial intelligence technologies. The program is expected to foster innovation, research, and application of autonomous AI systems across various sectors within the UAE. Why it matters: This launch represents a major strategic move by the UAE to consolidate its position as a global hub for advanced AI development and adoption, potentially impacting economic diversification and technological leadership in the region.
Saudi Arabia has issued comprehensive guidelines for its 'Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026' initiative. These guidelines are designed to unify national efforts across various sectors towards AI development and deployment. The primary objective is to scale high-impact AI programs and foster innovation throughout the Kingdom. Why it matters: This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia's strategic commitment to accelerating its AI capabilities and integrating AI into its national economy, aiming to establish itself as a prominent leader in the regional and global AI landscape.
MBZUAI researchers have developed an AI program using vision transformers that can learn a person's handwriting style and generate text in that style. The US Patent and Trademark Office recently granted a patent for this technology, which could aid individuals with writing impairments. The system overcomes limitations of previous GAN-based approaches by processing long-range dependencies in handwriting. Why it matters: This patented AI tool enhances personalized text generation and has potential applications in assistive technology and improving handwriting recognition models.
MBZUAI and the Weizmann Institute of Science have launched a joint AI Research Program. The program will foster collaborative projects, training, and exchanges in AI fields like machine learning, computer vision, and NLP. The initiative aims to advance both basic and applied AI research, particularly in healthcare and genomics. Why it matters: This partnership signifies growing international collaboration in AI research within the UAE and could accelerate breakthroughs in key AI applications.
32 Emirati AI experts have commenced a seven-month program designed to enhance their capabilities in artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to align AI development with the UAE's national strategic priorities. This program focuses on advanced training and practical application of AI technologies. Why it matters: This program signifies the UAE's commitment to developing local AI talent and strengthening its sovereign capabilities in critical technological fields.
This paper discusses the integration of AI into education, emphasizing a transdisciplinary approach that connects AI instruction to the broader curriculum and community needs. It delves into the AI program developed for Neom Community School in Saudi Arabia, where AI is taught as a subject and used to learn other subjects through the International Baccalaureate (IB) approach. The proposed method aims to make AI relevant throughout the curriculum by integrating it into Units of Inquiry.
MBZUAI welcomed over 400 students this semester, including its inaugural undergraduate cohort. The university received over 8,000 applications for its Bachelor and graduate programs, with a 5% acceptance rate. The newly launched Bachelor of Science in AI program offers streams in AI for Business and AI for Engineering. Why it matters: This expansion, particularly the undergraduate program, supports the UAE's National Strategy for AI 2031 and strengthens Abu Dhabi's growing AI ecosystem.
MBZUAI has opened graduate admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year, offering five M.Sc. and five Ph.D. programs, alongside a new Master in Applied AI (MAAI). The MAAI program is designed for working professionals, focusing on applying AI to solve organizational and societal challenges, taught by MBZUAI faculty and international guest speakers. The university also provides fully-funded scholarships for its M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in computer science, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. Why it matters: This new program and scholarship offerings will help MBZUAI attract top talent and further establish itself as a leading AI research institution in the region.