MBZUAI hosted the third edition of its Mailis program, focusing on AI's role in redefining the workplace and strengthening the UAE’s innovation ecosystem. The session brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and innovators from Abu Dhabi’s government, business, and startup sectors to discuss AI integration. Leaders from organizations like Khalifa Fund and Hub71 shared updates on AI initiatives, while MBZUAI showcased AI tools that can act as a co-founder. Why it matters: This event highlights the UAE's commitment to fostering AI adoption and collaboration across sectors, positioning the country as a leader in responsible AI innovation.
MBZUAI and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) hosted the fourth edition of Mailis, focusing on AI's impact on the arts. The event, part of ADMAF’s Riwaq Al Fikr initiative, featured discussions on AI's role in music, visual art, and creative expression. A panel including MBZUAI's Gus Xia explored AI's creative potential in filmmaking and music. Why it matters: This collaboration highlights the growing interest in exploring the intersection of AI and culture in the UAE, potentially fostering new forms of artistic expression and cultural preservation.
MBZUAI researchers have developed MAviS, a new multimodal dataset, benchmark, and chatbot for fine-grained bird species recognition. MAviS includes images, audio, and text to help models identify subtle differences between species, especially rare and regional varieties. The related study was presented at EMNLP 2025 and selected as a "Senior Area Chair Highlight". Why it matters: This work addresses a key limitation in AI's ability to support biodiversity conservation and ecological monitoring in the region and globally.
Faris Almalik, an MBZUAI alumnus, discusses his journey from mechanical engineering to becoming a senior data scientist at the Department of Government Enablement – TAMM in Abu Dhabi. Almalik emphasizes his passion for continuous learning and knowledge sharing, which has driven his career across defense, education, finance, and government sectors. He published his first paper on adversarial attacks on medical imaging at MICCAI during his time at MBZUAI. Why it matters: This highlights the success of MBZUAI in producing impactful AI professionals who contribute to both research and practical applications in key sectors within the UAE.
Todd Nims, a filmmaker born in Saudi Arabia, premiered his film "Joud" at KAUST's 2018 Winter Enrichment Program. The film, set in Saudi Arabia, explores the cycle of life in reverse and the meaning of "Joud" (generosity in the face of scarcity). Nims describes Saudi Arabia as a "magical place" due to its rich storytelling tradition. Why it matters: The article highlights KAUST's role in showcasing cultural works and supporting Saudi artists, though the AI relevance is limited.
KAUST highlights postdoctoral fellows Yi Jin Liew, Isabelle Schulz, Maren Ziegler and Neus Garcias Bonet outside the University Library. The article mentions King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1924 – 2015). It encourages applications to KAUST's Discovery Postdoctoral program. Why it matters: This brief announcement signals KAUST's ongoing investment in attracting international research talent to Saudi Arabia.
DERC's Aysha Al Neyadi won the Young Scientists Competition at the 14th International Conference Interaction of Radiation with Solids in Minsk, Belarus. Aysha co-authored a paper with researchers from Belarus State University and TII on the structure and phase composition stability of amorphous zirconium irradiated with helium ions. The paper examined amorphous alloy samples based on zirconium irradiated with Helium ions at 40 keV. Why it matters: This award recognizes contributions to materials science and highlights international research collaborations involving UAE institutions.
Three KAUST startups, iyris, Oaesis, and UnitX, were selected in the top 10 at the Startup Istanbul international competition out of 90,000 applicants. iyris secured third place with its technology, while Oaesis developed a laser-based energy-efficient lighting system for indoor farms. KAUST supports emerging companies from ideation to marketing and financial support. Why it matters: This showcases KAUST's role in fostering innovation and contributing to Saudi Arabia's knowledge-based economy by supporting promising startups on the global stage.