University of Wollongong in Dubai launches AI Master’s
New programme targets the growing gap between AI adoption and available talent
#UAE #education – Dubai Knowledge Park-based University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), the first international Australian university in the UAE, has introduced a Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence programme commencing in September 2026, alongside a Graduate Diploma in Applied Artificial Intelligence. Both programmes are practice-driven and industry-aligned, designed to close the widening gap between organisational demand for AI capability and the availability of professionals who can design, build and deploy intelligent systems. The master’s programme runs between 15 and 24 months across 12 subjects, with student intake windows in September, January and April.
SO WHAT? – AI adoption across the Gulf is accelerating, but — in common with many other region’s of the world — an AI talent gap remains. AI is projected to contribute $320 billion to the Middle East economy by 2030, and the World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 23 percent of jobs globally will change by 2027 due to automation and AI. McKinsey projects that demand for advanced AI and technical skills will more than double by 2030, particularly in the UAE. Programmes that produce professionals capable of taking AI models from development into production remain in relatively short supply, so the new Master’s course should be well received.
Here are some key points about the new programmes:
University of Wollongong in Dubai has introduced a Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence, a 15 to 24-month programme. The curriculum covers 12 subjects including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, AI solutions design, MLOps, generative models, multi-agent systems, AI strategy, ethics, governance and AI for innovation.
Alongside the master’s degree, UOWD has introduced a Graduate Diploma in Applied Artificial Intelligence, a 12-month programme covering eight subjects with the same per-subject fee structure, providing a shorter pathway into applied AI for professionals seeking faster upskilling.
Both programmes are structured around three pillars: technical mastery of machine learning algorithms, deep learning architectures and data engineering pipelines; strategic vision to align AI capabilities with business goals and govern them ethically; and real-world application through hands-on labs, enterprise-grade tools and capstone projects.
The programmes include support for professional certification readiness across Microsoft, IBM and Google certification frameworks. This aims to strengthen graduates’ employability and international recognition beyond the academic qualification itself.
Both programmes are delivered from UOWD’s Dubai Knowledge Park campus, located adjacent to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, placing students within proximity of more than 2,700 registered companies including regional and global technology firms such as IBM, Microsoft and Huawei.
Established in 1993 as the first international Australian university in the UAE, University of Wollongong in Dubai is part of a global network with campuses in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia, giving its qualifications international recognition across multiple higher education systems.
ZOOM OUT – The number of AI programmes offered by the UAE's higher education landscape grown significantly over the past ten years. The British University in Dubai introduced the country's first university AI course (a Bachelor's degree) in 2018. Today, more than 25 UAE universities offer dedicated AI courses or degree programmes, spanning bachelor's and master's degrees, doctoral research and other professional certifications. The recent pace of institutional development has been striking. Institutions including Khalifa University, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, the University of Birmingham Dubai, Middlesex University Dubai and Ajman University now all offer dedicated AI degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. In October 2019, Abu Dhabi established the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the world's first graduate-level research university dedicated entirely to AI, which welcomed its first MSc and PhD cohort in January 2021.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Read more about AI education in the UAE:
Over 1,000 apply for new UAE AI leadership programme (Middle East AI News)
Ajman University launches its first AI PhD (Middle East AI News)
UAE National Experts Program launches AI leadership track (Middle East AI News)
AI Academy opens second CAIO programme cohort (Middle East AI News)
UAE deploys 1,000 school teachers for AI curriculum (Middle East AI News)