MBZUAI graduates record AI cohort
Abu Dhabi AI university graduation ceremony marks milestones
#UAE #education - Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the graduation ceremony of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), its largest cohort to date, 104 Masters and PhD graduates were honoured across computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing disciplines. The Class of 2025 includes the university's first Emirati PhD graduate and represents 24 countries, with 80% of the expanding 316-strong alumni network remaining in the UAE to support the nation's artificial intelligence ecosystem within twelve months of graduation.
SO WHAT? - With the graduation of its biggest cohort of Masters and PhD graduates to-date, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence continues to increase its mpact on the UAE’s domestic AI capability. Despite its largely international student body, four-fifths of graduates choose to remain in the Emirates for employment or further study. MBZUAI is successfully attracting the brightest minds to Abu Dhabi and creating the human capital foundation necessary to support the nation's ambitious AI strategy.
Here are some key details about the new cohort and commencement ceremony:
This week’s commencement ceremony of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) graduated 104 students in its largest and most diverse cohort, comprising 13 PhD and 91 master's degree recipients across computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing specialisations.
The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other senior UAE officials including Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and MBZUAI Board Chairman and Mubadala CEO H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak.
The graduating class includes 20 Emirati students, featuring the university's first Emirati PhD graduate Salem AlMarri and eight local female graduates, demonstrating progress in developing homegrown artificial intelligence expertise.
International representation spans 24 countries including Pakistan, India, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Italy, with first-time graduates from Armenia, Bangladesh, Dominica, Eritrea, Serbia and Uruguay highlighting the institution's global reach.
Women comprise 30% of the 2025 cohort, including four female PhD graduates representing the university's first doctoral awards to women, marking significant progress in gender diversity within AI education.
The Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence university now maintains an alumni network of 316 specialists, with 80% remaining in the UAE for employment, PhD placements and startup ventures within twelve months of graduation.
ZOOM OUT - Officially opened in 2020, MBZUAI is the world’s first graduate-level AI research university, and forms a key part of the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. The institution attracts some of the best and brightest talent from around the world. Abu Dhabi’s AI R&D ecosystem now has the biggest critical mass of AI research talent and arguably the region’s most significant AI research output. Meanwhile, demand for top AI talent continues to increase across the UAE, with investment in AI talent growing fast across commercial and government sectors.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
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