Artificial Intelligence Integration in UAE's Education, Ranging from Preschool to Postgraduate Studies
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is a top priority, extending from early childhood to postgraduate studies. One institution at the forefront of this movement is the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).
Established in 2019, MBZUAI is a leading academic and research institution in the field of AI. The university offers a variety of AI-focused programs, including a newly launched undergraduate program, research-oriented master's and PhD degrees, and specialized initiatives for high school and undergraduate students.
MBZUAI's undergraduate program, introduced in 2025, offers two distinct streams. One stream focuses on engineering AI solutions, while the other emphasizes applying AI to business transformation. The curriculum emphasizes core AI technical foundations such as machine learning, neural networks, and intelligent systems.
At the postgraduate level, MBZUAI offers fully funded master's and PhD programs in core AI fields including machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. These programs are research-intensive and attract global students who often pursue careers in academia, government, and high-tech industries, contributing to both AI development and its ethical deployment.
MBZUAI also hosts initiatives such as the NextGen Summer Program, designed to introduce high school students (Grades 10–12) to AI through hands-on workshops and real-world application projects. The program focuses on AI ethics and future career pathways, fostering early talent for the AI sector.
Another initiative is the Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP), which attracts highly qualified undergraduate students worldwide to participate in faculty-led AI research projects. These projects span diverse areas such as brain tumour detection, automated media bias detection, interactive music generation, and brain-machine interfaces.
MBZUAI's research efforts are not limited to its own campus. The university maintains active international research collaborations and hosts specialized AI research hubs focused on foundation models and emerging technologies.
The UAE's AI agenda aligns with the UAE Centennial 2071 Vision, aiming for sustainable development, digital transformation, and economic diversification. Over 44 academic programs related to AI are offered in higher education institutions in the UAE, and AI will be formally taught in public schools across the UAE starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, covering kindergarten to Grade 12.
MBZUAI has contributed over 1,200 conference papers and 2,200 journal publications, bolstering its international academic standing. The university has a diverse student body from 39 countries, with Emiratis making up around 17% and women accounting for 31% of enrolments. Over 300 students have graduated with advanced degrees from MBZUAI, with 80% joining the UAE's growing AI ecosystem.
In conclusion, MBZUAI’s AI education programs span undergraduate to doctoral levels, combining rigorous technical training, research-driven learning, and outreach programs to nurture AI talent domestically and internationally within the UAE’s expanding AI landscape. The core goals of the national AI strategy include achieving centennial 2071 objectives, transforming key sectors, building a digitally empowered society, and boosting the digital economy.
- The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), a leading institution in the UAE, prioritizes AI integration in education, from Kindergarten to postgraduate studies.
- MBZUAI's undergraduate program, introduced in 2025, offers stream for both AI engineering and business transformation, emphasizing tech foundations like machine learning and neural networks.
- At the postgraduate level, MBZUAI offers research-intensive master's and PhD programs in AI, often attracting students who pursue careers in academia, government, and high-tech industries.
- MBZUAI hosts initiatives like NextGen Summer Program, designed for high school students, and Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP), attracting students worldwide to participate in AI research projects.
- The UAE's AI strategy aims to achieve centennial 2071 objectives, transform key sectors, build a digitally empowered society, and boost the digital economy, with over 44 academic programs related to AI offered in higher education institutions in the UAE.
