Khaled attends MBZUAI's commencement ceremony
The graduating class comprised 104 students, making it MBZUAI's largest and most diverse cohort to date.
The cohort included 13 PhD and 91 master's degree graduates across the university's three specialisations: Computer Vision (CV), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
Sheikh Khaled congratulated the graduates on their achievement and honoured several PhD and master's recipients, wishing them continued success in their academic and professional journeys, encouraging them to apply their knowledge and expertise in advancing the nation's development and helping to build an innovation-led, technology-driven economy.
He emphasised the UAE leadership's firm belief that shaping the future begins with knowledge, science, and technological advancement, noting that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence research and development by building an integrated ecosystem that places AI in the service of people and society, while reinforcing national leadership in key strategic sectors.
The ceremony was attended by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Chairman of MBZUAI's Board of Trustees, Dr Ahmed Mubarak bin Nawi Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President's Office for Strategic Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, Sara Awadh Musallam, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement, Major General Ahmed Saif Bin Zaitoon Al Muhairi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince, Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI President and University Professor, Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost, members of the university faculty, and graduates' families.
This year's cohort has 20 Emirati graduates, the highest number since the university's inception, including one PhD graduate in Computer Vision (CV) and nine local female graduates in different AI specialities, underscoring the university's commitment to cultivating homegrown talent to lead artificial intelligence-related sectors.
Graduates from the 2025 class represent 24 countries, including Pakistan, India, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Italy, as well as first-time graduates from Armenia, Bangladesh, Comoros, Dominica, Eritrea, Norway, Serbia, and Uruguay, underscoring the university's growing international reach and its commitment to attracting top global talent.
MBZUAI now boasts an expanding alumni network of 316 AI specialists, driving transformation across industries worldwide.
Nearly 80 per cent of alumni started working in Abu Dhabi within one year of graduation. As the university expands to offer 13 graduate programmes and launches its first undergraduate programme – a Bachelor of Science in AI with Business and Engineering tracks – it continues its mission to shape the future of AI locally, regionally and internationally.
Recently, Sheikh Khaled attended the graduation ceremony of the 36th cohort of cadet officers, 38th cohort of university graduates, 21st cohort of female university graduates, and the third batch of international cadets at the Police College.
Sheikh Khaled congratulated the graduates, wishing them success in their careers as they serve their nation and its leadership, underscoring the importance of upholding excellence in policing by adopting the latest methodologies and best practices in law enforcement and security, as a rapidly evolving sector.
He also extended his congratulations to the international graduates, encouraging them to apply the skills and knowledge gained during their training to serve their respective countries.
WAM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
How Dubai's 'AI family' forms part of a global conversation
When people are asked to describe the UAE, one of the words that crops up time and again is 'futuristic'. Although it is true that the country has long established a reputation for embracing cutting-edge technology, Dubai's recent introduction of an AI 'family' is a particularly eye-catching moment. So far, we have met only one member of this digital clan, a remarkably lifelike little girl – dressed in traditional attire – who is shown in a short video smiling at the camera as she plays in a park. To help encourage community participation, she invited the public to help select her name from three options – Dubai, Mira or Latifa. The project will introduce more members of the family − including the girl's father, mother and brother − to form a complete digital representation of an Emirati household. The interactive cast of characters will operate as brand ambassadors for Digital Dubai, an organisation that promotes the integration of online services and advanced technology in everyday life. Although such lifelike anthropomorphising may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is undoubtedly a smart way of getting residents to engage with the myriad digital and AI services that the emirate has invested so much in setting up. More importantly, it is also an significant contribution to the global conversation about this pivotal technology. In a week during which the EU introduced a wave of new rules and regulations to govern artificial intelligence across its 27 member states, the arrival of Dubai's first digital family is just the latest step in the UAE's AI journey, one that provides valuable experience and insights into how this rapidly developing technology is shaping our everyday lives. In June, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced that a National Artificial Intelligence System would become an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet, starting in January next year. And as Dubai's AI family was making its debut, a new report found that the emirate ranked in the top five world cities for AI, beating San Francisco, widely considered the birthplace of the modern tech industry. In a week during which the EU introduced a wave of new rules and regulations to govern artificial intelligence across its 27 member states, the arrival of Dubai's first digital family is just the latest step in the UAE's AI journey Seeing how citizens and residents interact with AI in the public realm of municipal services and government policy offers real-time feedback, providing more substance to a debate that can sometimes seem nebulous, focused as it often is on data centre megaprojects, technical innovations or international deals. Giving AI a human face is often an emotive subject, but there is little doubt that the practice will continue. In 2023, a Kuwaiti media outlet unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using AI, with plans for her to read online bulletins. In April this year, Dubai AI Week heard how the technology's rapid evolution may soon result in digital replicas of employees in workplaces, potentially reshaping job roles and intellectual property rights. Given this, the more we can learn about how society and AI interact, the better. And learning more about how 'digital families' and 'AI ministers' operate in a complex, dynamic and multi-cultural society – such as the UAE's – will be instructive.
Dubai Eye
9 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
UAE launches space mission, satellite engineering training programme
The UAE's National Space Academy has launched a programme to train the next generation of Emiratis through hands-on space mission systems experience, as the country aims to accelerate the development of its space capabilities. The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering Programme (SMSE), in partnership with EDGE, looks to train satellite engineers, system architects, and mission leaders through hands-on space mission systems training. The programme equips Emirati professionals, researchers, and graduates with specialised expertise in satellite mission design, space systems engineering, and mission operations, positioning them to support and accelerate the development of the UAE's space capabilities. The ten-week programme, taking place from September 16 to November 20 at the UAE Space Agency's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, combines in-person technical training with online modules led by a "distinguished" roster of local and international industry experts. Participants will gain practical experience across five core modules, including Designing Space Missions (DSM), Applied Space Systems Engineering (ASSE), Space System Verification and Validation (SSVV), Space Mission Operations (SMO), and a Central Case Project (CCP) simulating the end-to-end planning, design, and justification of a real satellite mission. The curriculum is designed to deliver in-depth technical training through hands-on laboratory work and project applications using industry-standard tools and software, while fostering a strategic understanding of operational planning through site visits to leading UAE aerospace and technology organisations. Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, commented: 'Preparing local talents is a fundamental pillar of the UAE Space Agency's strategy to ensure the sustainability of the space sector. We are committed to qualifying and training young local cadres and honing their skills according to the highest international standards to efficiently lead future space initiatives and missions, while strengthening the UAE's position as a global driver of innovation and scientific and technological advancement.' Al Qubaisi continued: 'Through the National Space Academy, one of our transformational projects, and the courses it offers, we seek to develop an integrated educational and training system that combines theoretical and practical aspects and meets the needs of the labour market. This is a significant step to support the UAE's ability to keep pace with the requirements of the next phase.' Waleid Al Mesmari, President - Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE Group, said: 'The UAE's success in space will ultimately be defined by our ability to nurture a new generation of technically adept Emiratis equipped to lead complex space missions." "Together with the UAE Space Agency, we are building a robust foundation that integrates education, industry expertise and strategic foresight to empower Emirati professionals to shape and lead the future of our space endeavours.' Open exclusively to UAE nationals, the programme targets professionals working in government or private sector organisations within the space industry, as well as academic researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. It also welcomes applications from graduates holding a bachelor's degree or higher qualifications.
TAG 91.1
20 hours ago
- TAG 91.1
UAE launches space mission, satellite engineering training programme
The UAE's National Space Academy has launched a programme to train the next generation of Emiratis through hands-on space mission systems experience, as the country aims to accelerate the development of its space capabilities. The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering Programme (SMSE), in partnership with EDGE, looks to train satellite engineers, system architects, and mission leaders through hands-on space mission systems training. The programme equips Emirati professionals, researchers, and graduates with specialised expertise in satellite mission design, space systems engineering, and mission operations, positioning them to support and accelerate the development of the UAE's space capabilities. The ten-week programme, taking place from September 16 to November 20 at the UAE Space Agency's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, combines in-person technical training with online modules led by a "distinguished" roster of local and international industry experts. Participants will gain practical experience across five core modules, including Designing Space Missions (DSM), Applied Space Systems Engineering (ASSE), Space System Verification and Validation (SSVV), Space Mission Operations (SMO), and a Central Case Project (CCP) simulating the end-to-end planning, design, and justification of a real satellite mission. The curriculum is designed to deliver in-depth technical training through hands-on laboratory work and project applications using industry-standard tools and software, while fostering a strategic understanding of operational planning through site visits to leading UAE aerospace and technology organisations. Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, commented: 'Preparing local talents is a fundamental pillar of the UAE Space Agency's strategy to ensure the sustainability of the space sector. We are committed to qualifying and training young local cadres and honing their skills according to the highest international standards to efficiently lead future space initiatives and missions, while strengthening the UAE's position as a global driver of innovation and scientific and technological advancement.' Al Qubaisi continued: 'Through the National Space Academy, one of our transformational projects, and the courses it offers, we seek to develop an integrated educational and training system that combines theoretical and practical aspects and meets the needs of the labour market. This is a significant step to support the UAE's ability to keep pace with the requirements of the next phase.' Waleid Al Mesmari, President - Space & Cyber Technologies, EDGE Group, said: 'The UAE's success in space will ultimately be defined by our ability to nurture a new generation of technically adept Emiratis equipped to lead complex space missions." "Together with the UAE Space Agency, we are building a robust foundation that integrates education, industry expertise and strategic foresight to empower Emirati professionals to shape and lead the future of our space endeavours.' Open exclusively to UAE nationals, the programme targets professionals working in government or private sector organisations within the space industry, as well as academic researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. It also welcomes applications from graduates holding a bachelor's degree or higher qualifications.
