MBZUAI has launched The Academy, a global platform for AI knowledge exchange, along with the world’s first AI x Arts Fellowship. The inaugural cohort of eight fellows includes artists and innovators like Refik Anadol and Amrita Sethi, who will participate in residency programs in Abu Dhabi in 2026. The Academy also encompasses the MBZUAI Executive Program (MEP), which empowers UAE leaders to leverage AI. Why it matters: This initiative signals MBZUAI's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between AI and the arts, positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for innovative AI applications in culture and heritage.
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) celebrated 25 years of collaboration with the Harvard Kennedy School’s executive programs. Over 800 Kuwaiti leaders have participated in these programs, focusing on leadership and public policy. KFAS highlighted the program's role in developing national capabilities and supporting Kuwait's sustainable development goals. Why it matters: The long-standing partnership signifies a sustained investment in human capital development within Kuwait, fostering leadership skills relevant to the nation's strategic objectives.
The sixth cohort of MBZUAI's Executive Program (MEP) has concluded, with 42 UAE leaders graduating after completing the 16-week training. The program aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of AI and drive AI-driven transformation within their organizations. Participants learned from MBZUAI faculty and experts from institutions like MIT, UC Berkeley, and industry leaders from Palantir and e&. Why it matters: This program reflects the UAE's commitment to developing AI leadership and effectively adopting AI solutions across critical sectors, equipping decision-makers with technical knowledge and strategic insights.
MBZUAI has launched the 6th edition of its Executive Program (MEP) aimed at empowering over 40 senior leaders from UAE's public and private sectors with AI knowledge. The 16-week program will cover AI fundamentals, industry transformations, strategy, policymaking, and ethics. Participants will explore a refreshed curriculum with immersive learning experiences, site visits, and an Ideas Launchpad to address real-world challenges. Why it matters: The program demonstrates the UAE's commitment to AI upskilling and aims to accelerate AI-driven transformations across sectors by equipping leaders with strategic, technical, and ethical foundations of AI.
Dr. Farida Al Hosani, a UAE public health leader and MBZUAI Executive Program graduate, has been at the forefront of the nation’s public health strategy, specializing in infectious diseases. She emphasizes the growing importance of AI in healthcare, particularly in areas like early detection, drug discovery, and public health strategies. Al Hosani has worked on several AI initiatives, including building algorithms and predictive modeling systems to bridge gaps in human health, especially in prevention. Why it matters: This highlights the increasing role of AI in transforming healthcare in the UAE, with public health leaders leveraging AI tools to improve disease prevention and treatment.
MBZUAI's executive programs (MEP and MEP-A) have trained nearly 240 senior leaders from the UAE's public and private sectors to implement AI solutions. Cohort six of the MEP begins in April, while the MEP-A will commence later in the year. The programs, taught by instructors from MBZUAI, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Harvard, and MIT, cover AI fundamentals, industry applications, strategy, policymaking, and ethics. Why it matters: These programs aim to empower leaders to contribute to the UAE's growing AI ecosystem and promote ethically-rooted innovation, aligning with the UAE's national AI strategy.
Raisa Mahomed, CTO of OpusDigitech in Dubai and an MBZUAI Executive Program alumna, focuses on using AI to improve sustainability and ESG goals for energy companies. She joined MBZUAI in 2023 to deepen her understanding of AI's technical and business impact. The MBZUAI program provided her with a clearer understanding of AI implementation and its societal effects. Why it matters: This highlights MBZUAI's role in developing AI leadership in the UAE and fostering the use of AI for sustainable development in key sectors.
The fifth edition of the MBZUAI Executive Program (MEP) concluded with 44 leaders from UAE's public and private sectors generating six innovative AI-driven ideas. Participants engaged in 16 weeks of learning, including modules on AI fundamentals, industry changes, policy, and ethics, with instruction from MBZUAI, UC Berkeley, and other top institutions. The capstone projects focused on using AI to solve national challenges under the theme of sustainability, including an AI-driven personalized learning platform for UAE schools. Why it matters: The program demonstrates MBZUAI's role in shaping future leaders and fostering AI innovation to address national priorities in the UAE.