As it marks its five-year milestone, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched The Academy, a global platform dedicated to disseminating cutting-edge AI knowledge and facilitating high-level exchange. The university has also announced its first AI x Arts Fellowship.
Unveiled as a core strategic pillar of the university, The Academy aims to convene the world’s most brilliant minds to reimagine the intersection of science and the humanities in its mission to shape the future of technology and society.
Held 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, and Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor at MBZUAI, the launch marked a defining moment in the university’s journey. It formed part of MBZUAI’s five-year milestone celebrations, with the announcement of its first AI x Arts Fellowship, coinciding with the graduation of the sixth cohort of the MBZUAI Executive Program (MEP).
The inaugural cohort of eight fellows features a diverse group of global visionaries, including large-scale data pioneer Refik Anadol; filmmaker James Gerde, specialising in AI-augmented narratives; multidisciplinary artist Emi Kusano; water and light artist Lachlan Turczan; and the UAE’s first NFT artist Amrita Sethi. They are joined by neural network landscape artist Daniel Ambrosi; Ahmad AlAttar, the first Emirati to combine AI with cultural heritage, and curator Giuseppe Moscatello, according to a press statement.
The eight fellows will participate in two residency programmes in 2026 in Abu Dhabi, designed to connect artists and AI scientists to co-create conceptual frameworks of the world significantly influenced by technology, while connecting with major museums and cultural platforms 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.”
Held at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the launch event previewed artworks from the university’s special collections and art collection that will document the historical development of scientific knowledge and its cultural interpretation through artistic practice.
The MEP, which is a cornerstone of the Academy, empowers UAE government and business leaders to leverage AI for national priorities. The 16-week programme brought together 43 senior leaders from critical sectors – including energy, healthcare, finance and policy – with more than two-thirds of participants holding high-level executive roles such as undersecretaries, CEOs, and senior vice presidents. To date, the MEP has trained more than 200 leaders, providing the technical foundation necessary to adopt AI solutions effectively across the emirates.
The launch event also showcased the university’s commitment to tangible impact through the presentation of its Leading Capstone Projects. Among the winning solutions was an AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare spending in Abu Dhabi.
Commemorative Coins Issued
To mark the fifth anniversary of MBZUAI, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has also issued gold and silver commemorative coins to mark the fifth-anniversary of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).
The obverse side of the gold coin features the Knowledge Centre of MBZUAI, alongside the years ‘2020’ and ‘2025’ denoting the five-year period. It is complemented by intricate geometric motifs and encircled by the name ‘Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence’ in both Arabic and English, along with its official logo.
The design also includes the inscription “Power from Knowledge to Serve”.
Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE, stated, “The issuance of this commemorative coin reflects our commitment to highlighting national initiatives in education and recognising the role played by MBZUAI since its establishment as an advanced model of specialised academic institutions, supporting the UAE’s vision of building a knowledge‑ and innovation‑driven economy.”
Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, added, “The issuance of the commemorative coins by the Central Bank of the UAE is a profound recognition of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence’s role in the nation’s strategic evolution. As we mark our fifth anniversary, we are proud to be part of the UAE’s success in embedding artificial intelligence at the heart of its national agenda. It is an honour for our journey toward becoming a global epicentre for AI research and higher education to be recognised through a historic tradition, one that bridges the heritage of the Emirates with the frontier of future technology.”
About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artifical Intelligence (MBZUAI)
MBZUAI is the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university aims to empower the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first ever undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams: Business and Engineering.
