Skip to content
GCC AI Research

Topics ›

AI

351–400 articles · Page 8 RSS ↗

MBZUAI names AI scientist Shao as exec VP & provost - Arab News

Inception · · AI MBZUAI

অধ্যাপক Timothy M. Shaw নিযুক্ত হয়েছেন MBZUAI-এর এক্সিকিউটিভ ভাইস প্রেসিডেন্ট ও প্রভোস্ট হিসেবে। ড. শাও এর আগে হংকং বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের (HKUST) অধ্যাপক ছিলেন। এই নিয়োগ MBZUAI-এর নেতৃত্বকে শক্তিশালী করবে এবং একাডেমিক উৎকর্ষের প্রতিশ্রুতির উপর জোর দেবে। Why it matters: একটি বিশিষ্ট AI ব্যক্তিত্বের অন্তর্ভুক্তি MBZUAI-এর শিক্ষাগত খ্যাতি বাড়াতে পারে এবং আরও বেশি আন্তর্জাতিক প্রতিভা আকৃষ্ট করতে পারে।

KAUST startup tackles COVID using AI and robotics

KAUST · · Robotics Healthcare

Azure Robotics, a KAUST startup, won a 100,000 SAR award from the KACST Combating COVID-19 Accelerator. Their winning project uses AI-enabled robots with UV light to disinfect large public spaces like airports and hospitals. The AI-powered robotic solution is reportedly six times more efficient than traditional human disinfection methods. Why it matters: This highlights the growing role of AI and robotics in addressing public health challenges in the region, with KAUST playing a key role in fostering related innovation.

Dr. Chan's welcome address to S20 participants

KAUST · · Policy Ethics

KAUST President Tony Chan addressed the G20 National Science Academies (S20) virtually, congratulating the leadership for progress made since the April information session. He highlighted the upcoming S20 summit at KAUST, where the global science community will present a template for a better future to G20 leaders. Chan emphasized holistic thinking and the need to consider unintended consequences in technological developments like AI and precision medicine. Why it matters: This underscores KAUST's role as a convener for international science collaboration and its focus on AI ethics and governance within the G20 framework.

Saudi startup puts drone's limitless abilities in our hands

KAUST · · Product Robotics

Saudi startup Firnas Aero, founded in 2018, offers drone-based inspection services targeting aviation, security, industrial, and delivery sectors. The company develops its own drones and AI-equipped software for faster and more accurate inspections than manual methods. Their solution involves drones capturing high-resolution images analyzed by AI to pinpoint issues, enhancing speed and accuracy. Why it matters: This showcases Saudi Arabia's growing entrepreneurial interest in drone technology and AI-powered solutions for industrial applications, potentially improving efficiency and safety across sectors.

Here’s one way to protect Earth’s groundwater: guard it from space

KAUST · · Research Partnership

KAUST's Hydrology and Land Observation (Halo) lab, led by Matthew McCabe, is using drones and satellites to monitor agricultural water usage in Saudi Arabia. They employ thermal cameras, sensors, and imagery from CubeSats to map crop types, health, and water stress. The team uses machine learning and AI to analyze the images, aiming to promote sustainable water management. Why it matters: This research addresses critical water scarcity issues in the region by providing data-driven insights for more efficient agricultural practices.

How AI helps improve COVID-19 testing

KAUST · · Healthcare Research

KAUST Professor Xin Gao formed part of the Rapid Research Response Team (R3T) to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Gao's team developed and deployed an AI system to assist clinicians in improving the accuracy of COVID-19 diagnoses. The lecture outlines how the AI system was built and implemented. Why it matters: This showcases how GCC academic institutions are leveraging AI to address pressing healthcare challenges.

Big data, AI major tools in COVID-19 fight: QCRI scientists - Qatar Tribune

QCRI · · Research Healthcare

Scientists at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) have extensively utilized big data and artificial intelligence technologies in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their work involved developing tools and methodologies to track disease spread, predict outbreaks, and analyze public sentiment related to health measures. This research aimed to provide data-driven insights to inform public health strategies and decision-making processes. Why it matters: This highlights the significant role of Middle Eastern research institutions in leveraging advanced technologies to address global health crises and contribute to scientific solutions.

Using AI to understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19

KAUST · · Healthcare Research

A KAUST Rapid Research Response Team (R3T) is collaborating with healthcare stakeholders to combat COVID-19. Xin Gao and his Structural and Functional Bioinformatics (SFB) Group are developing an AI-based diagnosis pipeline from CT scans of COVID-19 patients. The AI pipeline aims to address the high false negative rates associated with nucleic acid detection. Why it matters: This research could improve COVID-19 diagnostics and potentially inform understanding of viral pathogenesis.

KAUST and the Industrial Clusters virtually sign National BioPark Memorandum of Understanding

KAUST · · Partnership Healthcare

KAUST and Industrial Clusters (IC) virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to host a National BioPark project in the KAUST Research and Technology Park (KRTP). The BioPark aims to foster research and technology development in biopharmaceutical, smart health, and associated AI technologies. KAUST will provide BioPark entrepreneurs and investors access to its innovation ecosystem and facilities. Why it matters: This initiative will advance Saudi Arabia's biopharmaceutical industry and align with KAUST's focus on biological sciences, smart health, and AI, contributing to economic diversification.

Kuwait launches Robotics, AI Festival - Global Times

Kuwait AI · · Robotics AI

Kuwait has launched a Robotics and AI Festival, as reported by Global Times, signifying an initiative to promote technological advancement. This event aims to showcase innovations, foster talent, and enhance public engagement in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. The festival likely includes exhibitions, workshops, and discussions to encourage local development and awareness. Why it matters: This initiative reflects Kuwait's strategic commitment to building its technological capabilities and nurturing a skilled workforce in critical future-oriented sectors, aligning with broader regional efforts in AI development.

Kuwait launches Robotics, AI Festival - Xinhua | English.news.cn - 新华网

Kuwait AI · · Robotics AI

Kuwait has launched a Robotics and AI Festival, aiming to foster innovation and technological understanding within the country. The event is designed to engage participants through various activities, potentially including workshops, competitions, and exhibitions showcasing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics. This festival seeks to promote a culture of technological exploration and development among Kuwaiti youth and the broader community. Why it matters: This initiative helps raise public awareness, cultivate local talent, and promote a culture of technological innovation crucial for Kuwait's digital transformation goals.

Faculty Focus: Taous-Meriem Laleg-Kirati

KAUST · · Research Healthcare

KAUST Associate Professor Taous-Meriem Laleg-Kirati leads the Estimation, Modeling and ANalysis (EMAN) research group, focusing on control theory, system modeling, and signal applications. Her group develops mathematical models and algorithms to control processes relying on real-time feedback, especially for systems where experimental data is limited. The EMAN group recently developed a real-time control algorithm for a solar membrane distillation system, increasing water production by over 50% in simulations. Why it matters: Laleg-Kirati's work advances both engineering and healthcare by combining model-based research with AI, offering opportunities for personalized medicine and efficient resource management in the region.

Student Focus: Abdullah Hamdi

KAUST · · Research CV

Abdullah Hamdi, a Ph.D. student at KAUST, is researching AI, deep learning, and computer vision in the Image and Video Understanding Lab under Associate Professor Bernard Ghanem. His work focuses on developing reliable testing methods for deep learning tools, particularly for sensitive applications like self-driving vehicles. Hamdi aims to disseminate AI knowledge and contribute to the AI ecosystem in the region. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in fostering local AI talent and contributing to critical research areas like autonomous vehicles, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader technology goals.

Breaking the limits of learning

KAUST · · Research KAUST

KAUST Associate Professor Xiangliang Zhang leads the Machine Intelligence and Knowledge Engineering (MINE) group, focusing on machine learning and data mining algorithms for AI applications. The MINE group researches complex graph data to profile nodes, predict links, detect computing communities, and understand their connections. Zhang's team also works on graph alignment and recommender systems. Why it matters: This research contributes to advancing machine learning techniques at a leading GCC institution, potentially impacting various AI applications in the region.

Alumni Focus: Sara Althubaiti

KAUST · · Research Healthcare

KAUST alumna Sara Althubaiti (M.S. '18) is now a computer science Ph.D. student in the Bio-Ontology Research Group, focusing on using AI to prioritize cancer mutations and predict new disease treatments. Her work involves understanding the relationship between drug side effects and disease phenotypes. Althubaiti aims to continue in academia after her Ph.D., contributing to research in Saudi universities. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in fostering local talent and contributing to advancements in AI-driven healthcare research within the Kingdom.

KAUST Professor Peter Richtárik wins Distinguished Speaker Award

KAUST · · Research KAUST

KAUST Professor Peter Richtárik received a Distinguished Speaker Award at the Sixth International Conference on Continuous Optimization (ICCOPT 2019) in Berlin. Richtárik's lecture series, totaling six hours, focused on stochastic gradient descent (SGD) methods, drawing from recent research by his KAUST group. He highlighted key principles and new variants of SGD, the key method for training modern machine learning models. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contribution to fundamental machine learning optimization, which is critical for advancing AI in the region.

Princeton varsity researchers tackle AI, deep learning with QCRI scientists - Qatar Tribune

QCRI · · Research Partnership

Researchers from Princeton University and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) are collaborating on artificial intelligence and deep learning projects. The partnership aims to leverage the expertise of both institutions to advance AI research. Specific project details or outcomes were not disclosed in the provided text. Why it matters: International collaborations of this nature can help foster innovation and knowledge transfer in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

KAUST hosts first National Hackathon of Energy

KAUST · · Energy KAUST

KAUST hosted Saudi Arabia's first National Hackathon of Energy, in partnership with the Saudi Electricity Company's Innovation Energy Incubator. Innovators collaborated to find technical solutions for the Kingdom's energy challenges. Three projects were honored: AI-HUB for cybersecurity, a smart circuit breaker, and 'Amn Al-Kafa’at,' a fire extinguisher system. Why it matters: This hackathon highlights the growing focus on using AI and technology to address energy challenges in Saudi Arabia, with KAUST playing a central role in fostering innovation.

QCRI, UNDP to host workshop on use of AI to solve problems - Qatar Tribune

QCRI · · AI Policy

Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will host a workshop on using artificial intelligence to solve development problems. The workshop aims to bring together experts and practitioners to explore AI applications. It will focus on identifying opportunities for AI to address challenges in various sectors. Why it matters: This event signals growing interest in leveraging AI for social good and development across the Arab region.

KAUST Associate Professor Xiangliang Zhang talks about artificial intelligence

KAUST · · Research AI

KAUST Associate Professor Xiangliang Zhang presented her work on mining streaming and temporal data at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI-ECAI-18) in Stockholm. Her talk, "Mining Streaming and Temporal Data: from Representation to Knowledge," summarized her research on mining data streams. Zhang directs the KAUST Machine Intelligence and kNowledge Engineering (MINE) group, which focuses on knowledge discovery from large-scale data. Why it matters: Showcases KAUST's contributions to AI research and highlights the university's growing recognition within the international AI community.

Startup Lucidya transforms data analysis and monitoring

KAUST · · NLP AI

Lucidya, a startup founded by Saudi entrepreneurs including KAUST alumnus Zuhair Khayyat, utilizes AI and Big Data to analyze social media content from platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as well as articles from 200 million websites in over 120 languages. The technology predicts user emotions, detects interests, and provides content analyses to customers for better decision-making. Lucidya commercially transformed the scientific research 'Tagreed' to start their company. Why it matters: This demonstrates the growing potential of Saudi startups in leveraging AI for data analysis and social media monitoring, and it showcases the role of KAUST in fostering technological innovation and entrepreneurship within the Kingdom.

Alumni Focus: Ahmed Abdulmajeed Alabdulkarim, M.S. '11

KAUST · · Research AI

Ahmed Abdulmajeed Alabdulkarim, a KAUST alumnus (M.S. '11), pursued a Ph.D. at MIT and now leads a research lab at KACST and MIT. His research interests include big data, AI, and machine learning. He credits KAUST as a starting point for his growth as a scientist, providing a perfect research environment and interactions with distinguished scientists. Why it matters: The success of KAUST alumni in leading research roles at prominent institutions like KACST and MIT highlights the university's contribution to developing Saudi Arabia's AI research capacity.

Laying the foundation for future cities

KAUST · · Infrastructure Partnership

Khaled Alrashed, president and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company for Projects Development, discussed the challenges of future smart cities at a KAUST event. He emphasized the importance of smart grids, AI, and large-scale optimization for improving urban living. The Saudi Electricity Company is partnering with KAUST, including using the Shaheen supercomputer, to develop these technologies and predict grid load. Why it matters: This collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leader in smart city technology and renewable energy, leveraging local expertise and resources.

Exploring deep-sea exploration

KAUST · · Robotics Research

Stanford's Robotics Laboratory, in collaboration with KAUST professors Khaled Nabil Salama and Christian Voolstra and MEKA Robotics, developed OceanOne, a bimanual underwater humanoid robot avatar with haptic feedback. OceanOne allows human pilots to explore ocean depths with high fidelity by relaying instantaneous images. The robot has two fully articulated arms and a tail section with batteries, computers, and thrusters. Why it matters: This collaboration between KAUST and Stanford highlights the increasing role of robotics and AI in deep-sea exploration, with potential applications in underwater research and resource discovery in the Red Sea and beyond.

Dominik L. Michels receives the first Procter & Gamble Faculty Award

KAUST · · Research Partnership

KAUST Assistant Professor Dominik Michels received the first Procter & Gamble (P&G) Faculty Award for his research contributions to the consumer goods industry. Michels has a long-standing academic partnership with P&G, contributing to the development and integration of computer-aided product development techniques into P&G's workflow. The collaborative projects have focused on AI, machine learning, and scientific/visual computing. Why it matters: This award highlights KAUST's growing role in applied AI research and its successful partnerships with major global corporations, facilitating technology transfer and real-world impact.

Bridging biology and AI with domain knowledge

MBZUAI · · Research Healthcare

MBZUAI Visiting Professor Haiyan Huang is working on bridging biology and AI by incorporating domain knowledge into modeling frameworks. She combines statistical principles, AI tools, and domain expertise to develop scientifically informed and statistically grounded methods. Her work addresses the challenge of extracting meaningful signals from complex biological data. Why it matters: This interdisciplinary approach can lead to more accurate and useful AI models for biological research and healthcare applications in the region.

MBZUAI community comes together for Alumni Suhoor

MBZUAI · · AI Education

MBZUAI hosted its annual Alumni Suhoor, attended by graduates, faculty, staff, and leadership, to foster connection and engagement. The event featured remarks from Joni Cholwich and Dr. Mohamed Alkuwaiti, and included the launch of an alumni advisory board. Alumni shared their diverse experiences in research, entrepreneurship, and public/private sector roles, exploring collaborations. Why it matters: Strengthening alumni networks helps solidify MBZUAI's role in the UAE's AI ecosystem and expands its influence beyond academia.

Exploring metaverse solutions for seamless logistics

MBZUAI · · AI Partnership

MBZUAI graduates Dhanalaxmi Gaddam and Abbas Bamidele Abdulsalam won DP World’s Big Tech Project with a metaverse-based solution for logistics. Their winning solution uses VR/AR to enhance training and productivity at DP World's ports. They will receive master’s degrees from MBZUAI and commence a paid internship with DP World. Why it matters: The project highlights the growing role of AI and metaverse applications in optimizing logistics and trade across the GCC, which Strategy& projects could contribute $15 billion annually to GCC economies by 2030.

AI for all: Unlocking an inclusive future with technology

MBZUAI · · AI Ethics

The Special Olympics Global Center Summit in Abu Dhabi convened 300 advocates to discuss social inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities. A panel including MBZUAI's Elizabeth Churchill highlighted AI's role in inclusive technology design, especially in education. Churchill noted AI can personalize learning through tailored regimens, emotion detection, and understanding cognitive patterns. Why it matters: AI-driven personalization has potential to transform education and accessibility for children of determination and other underrepresented groups in the region.

Making MBZUAI the “Stanford of the Middle East”

MBZUAI · · AI Education

MBZUAI President Eric Xing announced plans to expand the university's programs and strengthen its position as a global leader in technology and AI. Xing stated his ambition for MBZUAI to become the "Stanford of the Middle East", driving innovation and economic growth in the region. In 2024, MBZUAI launched new departments, released numerous research papers, and formed industry partnerships, growing to 84 faculty and 365 students. Why it matters: This vision signals a strong commitment to developing a regional hub for AI research and development, potentially attracting talent and investment to the UAE.

MBZUAI to showcase assistive AI technologies at GITEX 2025

MBZUAI · · AI Healthcare

MBZUAI will present two assistive AI prototypes at GITEX 2025: smart glasses with a camera and eye tracker that identify objects and medication, and a brain-computer interface (BCI) device integrated with robotics to control a robotic dog's movements. The smart glasses use a multimodal large language model (LLM) to help visually impaired individuals, while the BCI aims to restore hands-free communication for people with mobility limitations. Hisham Cholakkal leads the research team, which received a Meta Regional Research Grant 2025 for its work on multimodal LLM for smart wearables. Why it matters: The research demonstrates the potential of AI to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations and addresses the challenge of providing cost-effective care for aging societies.

AI Innovation Day at MBZUAI unites UAE leaders to shape the future of AI in healthcare

MBZUAI · · Healthcare AI

MBZUAI hosted AI Innovation Day, uniting over 200 UAE leaders from healthcare, government, science, and research to foster collaborations in AI-driven healthcare. The event featured sessions on multimodal foundation models, human genomics, longevity science, and robotics-enabled therapeutics. UAE's Minister of Health and Prevention, H.E. Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, emphasized AI's fundamental role in the future of healthcare in the UAE. Why it matters: The event highlights the UAE's commitment to becoming a global hub for digital healthcare research and innovation, positioning MBZUAI as a key driver in the region's healthcare ecosystem.

Not just another deck: how MBZUAI’s okkslides is redefining executive communication

MBZUAI · · Product AI

MBZUAI student-led startup okkslides, incubated within the University’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC), is developing an AI-native presentation tool. Founded by Lan Wei, a computer science Ph.D. candidate, and Steve Liu, a professor at MBZUAI, okkslides aims to transform messy inputs into executive-grade narratives. The platform focuses on augmenting human reasoning with AI to capture brand nuance and support iterative, human-led collaboration in presentation creation. Why it matters: This highlights the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at MBZUAI and the potential for AI to improve professional workflows in the region.

MBZUAI marks five years of pioneering AI excellence with anniversary ceremony and weeklong celebrations

MBZUAI · · AI Research

MBZUAI celebrated its fifth anniversary with a ceremony attended by prominent figures, marking its establishment in 2020. The university is ranked 10th globally in AI, computer vision, machine learning, NLP, robotics and computational biology according to CSRankings. MBZUAI was also recognized among the top 50 organizations advancing AI at NeurIPS 2025, with a diverse academic community. Why it matters: MBZUAI's growth reinforces the UAE's position as a global AI leader, contributing significantly to the nation's knowledge-driven economy and AI research ecosystem.

MBZUAI’s Launch Lab equips alumni and students with practical startup tools

MBZUAI · · Entrepreneurship AI

MBZUAI concluded its inaugural Launch Lab, a six-week pilot program designed to help alumni and students transform startup ideas into tangible ventures. The program, developed by the Alumni Relations team, aimed to bridge the gap between academic excellence and real-world impact. Fifteen participants worked on their startup ideas through in-person sessions, covering refining ideas, business model design, and go-to-market strategy. Why it matters: This initiative highlights MBZUAI's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and translating AI research into practical business applications within the UAE.

Youngest MBZUAI student sets sights on AI superintelligence at just 17

MBZUAI · · AI Education

Brandon-Jason Adebayo, the youngest student ever accepted to MBZUAI at age 17, used ChatGPT to find the AI-focused degree program. Adebayo chose MBZUAI over offers from U.S. universities due to its specialized AI curriculum and full scholarship. He aims to contribute to AI superintelligence (ASI) by improving his reasoning abilities and bridging the gap in AI advancements. Why it matters: This highlights MBZUAI's draw for international talent and the UAE's growing focus on cultivating future AI leaders, even at the undergraduate level.

Sir Michael Brady on why healthcare AI must move from detection to articulation

MBZUAI · · Healthcare AI

Sir Michael Brady, professor at Oxford and MBZUAI, argues that AI in healthcare must move beyond pattern recognition to causal understanding. He states that clinicians require AI models to articulate their reasoning behind diagnoses and therapy recommendations, not just provide statistical scores. He believes AI's immediate impact will be in personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to the individual rather than relying on epidemiological averages. Why it matters: This perspective highlights the critical need for explainable AI in sensitive domains like healthcare, paving the way for more trustworthy and clinically relevant AI applications in the region.

Careem co-founder Magnus Olsson shares lessons on AI, entrepreneurship, and purpose with MBZUAI community

MBZUAI · · AI Entrepreneurship

Careem co-founder Magnus Olsson visited MBZUAI to share insights on AI, entrepreneurship, and purpose. He emphasized the importance of solving real-world problems and understanding customer needs before focusing on technology. Olsson also discussed Careem's 'three plus three buckets' approach, leveraging AI to enhance marketplace and payment experiences. Why it matters: The visit highlights the growing intersection of AI research and practical business applications in the region, fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among students.

Transforming Healthcare with AI-Powered Robotics

MBZUAI · · Healthcare Robotics

The inaugural Abu Dhabi AI-Robotics Conference was held at MBZUAI, focusing on AI-powered robotics to transform healthcare. Experts explored applications in microsurgery, biorobotics, and personalized treatment, with keynotes from H.E. Abdulla Abdulalee AlHumaidan, Timothy Baldwin, and Sami Haddadin. Dr. Hassa Al Mazrouei highlighted the potential for personalized care and automation driven by AI. Why it matters: The conference underscores the UAE's commitment to advancing AI and robotics in healthcare, potentially positioning the region as a leader in innovative medical technologies.

MBZUAI to demonstrate AI as a driving force in energy transformation at ADIPEC 2025

MBZUAI · · AI Energy

MBZUAI will showcase AI applications for energy transformation at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting technologies for safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Demonstrations will include intelligent cooling, autonomous inspection robotics, and AI-powered decision support. Sami Haddadin emphasizes AI's role as critical infrastructure, while Ramzi Ben Ouaghren notes its role in enabling a sustainable energy future. Why it matters: This participation underscores the UAE's commitment to leveraging AI for global impact in the energy sector, promoting innovation and technology transfer.

K2 Think Hackathon: finalists selected to turn AI ideas into real-world impact

MBZUAI · · AI Hackathon

The K2 Think Hackathon, organized by MBZUAI, selected 16 finalist teams from nearly 900 applications across 57 countries. The teams will compete in Abu Dhabi to build applications powered by K2 Think, an open-source reasoning system. The winning team's idea will be integrated into the K2 Think app. Why it matters: This hackathon highlights the growing interest in AI development and provides a platform for global talent to contribute to open-source AI projects in the UAE.

From sky to sea: A biologically inspired aerial–aquatic robot

MBZUAI · · Robotics Research

MBZUAI's Ke Wu is developing bio-inspired robots, including a transmedia drone modeled after the diving beetle that can move in both air and water. The design will be presented at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2025) in Hangzhou, China. The research explores how principles from nature and evolution can inform robot design, control, and learning, integrating AI with embodied intelligence. Why it matters: This work contributes to the rapidly evolving field of soft robotics and offers new insights for developing more adaptive, biologically grounded intelligent systems in the region and globally.

AI’s next frontier: Shorooq’s Dr. Bilal Baloch on what it takes to secure venture capital in a shifting market

MBZUAI · · Funding Partnership

Shorooq Partners, a Middle East investment firm, has $500M in assets under management. Their AI fund is co-led by Dr. Bilal Baloch, who spoke at MBZUAI about venture capital. He advises technical founders to partner with people who complement their skills, especially in policy and commercialization. Why it matters: This highlights the growing sophistication of the venture capital ecosystem in the Middle East for AI startups.

MBZUAI’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center Launches Demo Day for AI Builders in Abu Dhabi

MBZUAI · · AI Entrepreneurship

MBZUAI's Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) is launching "Build It Demo Day" in Abu Dhabi, an event for showcasing early-stage AI solutions and prototypes. The first demo day will be held on October 30, 2025, and applications are open to students, founders, and professionals. Participating AI builders will gain exposure to a network of organizations and access over $200,000 in technology credits from NVIDIA, Microsoft, AWS, and others. Why it matters: This event provides a crucial platform for early-stage AI innovation in the UAE, fostering entrepreneurship and attracting investment in the region's growing AI ecosystem.

IEC Open Day energizes MBZUAI community; “Build It” Demo Day announced

MBZUAI · · AI Entrepreneurship

MBZUAI's Incubation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) hosted an Open Day for over 200 community members, including the university's first undergraduate students, to promote building AI startups in Abu Dhabi. The IEC highlighted its progress with 14 Abu Dhabi-based AI startups and announced a new demo day called "Build It" to showcase working demos from students, researchers, and founders. The "Build It" demo day aims to accelerate prototype development into real products, prioritizing submissions from within MBZUAI but also open to external teams. Why it matters: This initiative reinforces Abu Dhabi's growing ecosystem for AI entrepreneurship by providing resources, capital, and community support to foster innovation and product development.

Tahnoon bin Zayed issues resolution to reconstitute Board of Trustees of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Chaired by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak

MBZUAI · · Policy Education

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed has issued a resolution to reconstitute the Board of Trustees of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The board is chaired by His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, with other members including Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Saif Saeed Ghobash, and Professor Daniela Rus. MBZUAI is recognized as a leading global institution in AI, focusing on research and innovation across sectors like healthcare and sustainability. Why it matters: The restructuring reinforces the UAE's commitment to AI leadership and MBZUAI's role in driving innovation and supporting the nation's AI strategy.

AlMarri on giving back and forging his own path

MBZUAI · · AI Policy

MBZUAI PhD student Salem AlMarri, also a Dubai Police officer, has been appointed to the Dubai Youth Council for 2023-2025. AlMarri's research focuses on using AI to combat crime and improve emergency response times, aiming to contribute to the UAE's AI strategy. In 2019, he was recognized as one of the UAE’s up and coming scientist at the Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Program for Excellence and Community Intelligence. Why it matters: This appointment highlights the UAE's focus on empowering young talent in AI to drive innovation and address local challenges in public safety and smart city development.

AI to reduce malaria in a warming world

MBZUAI · · Healthcare AI

MBZUAI is developing AI-powered applications to help reduce malaria's impact in Indonesia, supported by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Reaching the Last Mile initiative. The applications use sensory data fusion to create "digital twins" for precise weather forecasting and real-time environmental representation. AI and clustering analysis identify recurring features contributing to malaria outbreaks, enabling preventative measures and early treatment. Why it matters: This project demonstrates AI's potential in combating climate-sensitive diseases and improving public health in vulnerable regions.

AI is an important economic and social game changer, says Dr Sultan Al Jaber

MBZUAI · · Policy Funding

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the UAE's focus on AI as a key economic and social driver, estimating AI's potential contribution to the UAE's GDP at $97.9 billion by 2030. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is positioned to play a crucial role in achieving the UAE's national AI strategy goals by 2031. The UAE aims to become a global leader in AI, leveraging it across various sectors to enhance efficiency and innovation. Why it matters: This reaffirms the UAE's commitment to becoming a leader in AI, supported by strategic initiatives and investments in education and technology.

President’s address to the Class of 2025

MBZUAI · · Policy Education

MBZUAI President Eric Xing addressed the Class of 2025 at Space42 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the university's growth and impact. He thanked outgoing chairman H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber and welcomed new chair H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak. Xing emphasized the shift of technological innovation towards the MENA region, citing the UAE-US AI partnership and the unveiling of the world’s largest AI campus outside the U.S. Why it matters: This address underscores the UAE's ambition to become a global AI hub and the pivotal role of MBZUAI in driving this transformation.