This paper presents an experience report on teaching an AI course to business executives in the UAE. The course focuses on enabling students to understand how to incorporate AI into existing business processes, rather than focusing only on theoretical and technical aspects. The paper discusses the course overview, curriculum, teaching methods, and reflections on teaching adult learners in the UAE.
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.
A survey of 92 library and information science (LIS) professionals in the UAE reveals strong cognitive AI competencies but gaps in behavioral and normative competencies related to AI biases and ethics. The study identifies a disconnect between the perceived importance of AI skills and the effectiveness of current training programs. It recommends that library training programs address AI ethics and biases.
This study assesses workforce preparedness for AI in the GCC region, using socio-technical systems theory to analyze national AI strategies and initiatives in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The research combines TF-IDF analysis, case studies of MBZUAI and SDAIA Academy, and scenario planning to evaluate the balance between technical capacity and social alignment. The study identifies a potential two-track talent system and emphasizes the importance of regulatory convergence for successful AI adoption.
Researchers at MBZUAI introduce "Interactive Video Reasoning," a new paradigm enabling models to actively "think with videos" by performing iterative visual actions to gather and refine evidence. They developed Video CoM, which reasons through a Chain of Manipulations (CoM), and constructed Video CoM Instruct, an 18K instruction tuning dataset for multi-step manipulation reasoning. The model is further optimized via reinforcement learning with reasoning aware Group Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO), achieving strong results across nine video reasoning benchmarks.
MBZUAI has completed the second edition of its Global AI Leadership Program (GAILP), designed to equip senior UAE decision-makers with the knowledge to lead in an AI-driven environment. The five-day program included leaders from government, industry, and the innovation ecosystem, with sessions focusing on AI fundamentals, data-driven prediction, workforce transformation, and governance. Participants also discussed the ethical considerations for AI usage.
A research paper proposes a smart waste management system called TUHR for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, leveraging IoT and AI to handle waste accumulation during the annual pilgrimage. The system uses ultrasonic sensors to monitor waste levels and gas detectors to identify harmful substances, alerting authorities when containers are full or hazards are detected. The proposed system aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting sustainability and improving public health through optimized waste management.