Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has unveiled The Academy, marking a significant step in its evolving role at the intersection of technology, culture and society. Introduced as a central strategic initiative, The Academy has been designed as a global forum for advanced dialogue, sharing frontier AI research while bringing together leading thinkers from science, arts and the humanities.
The official launch took place in the presence of His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Member of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, alongside Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor at MBZUAI. The occasion coincided with the university’s five-year anniversary celebrations and the graduation of the sixth cohort of the MBZUAI Executive Program (MEP), alongside the announcement of the university’s first AI x Arts Fellowship.
The inaugural fellowship cohort includes eight internationally recognised creatives and innovators, among them data-driven artist Refik Anadol; filmmaker James Gerde, known for AI-enhanced storytelling; multidisciplinary artist Emi Kusano; and water and light artist Lachlan Turczan. The group also features UAE NFT pioneer Amrita Sethi, neural network landscape artist Daniel Ambrosi, Emirati cultural technologist Ahmad AlAttar, and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. The fellows will take part in two residency programmes in Abu Dhabi in 2026, bringing together artists and AI researchers to explore new conceptual frameworks shaped by emerging technologies and engage with major cultural institutions across the emirate.
Spring Chunxiao Fu, Managing Director at the MBZUAI Academy said: “The launch of The Academy reflects the mission of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to move AI beyond the laboratory and into the heart of society. By bringing together the world’s greatest minds – from the artists in our new fellowship to the leaders in our executive programmes – we hope to shape the narratives and elevate the global conversation beyond technology to purpose and impact, while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s ambitious role in the global AI landscape.”
The launch event was hosted at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, where attendees were given a preview of artworks from the university’s special and permanent collections. These works aim to document the historical evolution of scientific knowledge and its interpretation through artistic expression.
A key component of The Academy is the MBZUAI Executive Program, which equips senior leaders from government and industry with the skills needed to deploy AI in support of national priorities. The latest 16-week programme brought together 43 senior participants from sectors including healthcare, energy, finance and public policy, with more than two-thirds holding C-suite or equivalent executive roles. Since its inception, the programme has trained more than 200 leaders across the UAE.
The event also highlighted applied innovation through the presentation of Leading Capstone Projects, including a winning AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to enhance health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs in Abu Dhabi. More regional news is available at https://abudhabi-news.com/.
