The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched its first undergraduate program: the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence. This program combines core AI expertise with leadership, entrepreneurship, and industry experience.
MBZUAI’s undergraduate program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in AI disciplines such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. It also offers cross-disciplinary training in business, finance, industrial design, market analysis, management, and communication. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning to foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Chairman of MBZUAI’s Board of Trustees, stated: “Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries and economies worldwide, and the UAE is dedicated to staying at the forefront of this change. MBZUAI’s new undergraduate program aligns with our nation's vision to cultivate future leaders who will leverage AI’s potential to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal progress.”
“By equipping the next generation with deep technical expertise and an understanding of AI’s broader impact, this programme will play a critical role in ensuring that the UAE continues to lead in AI research, application, and commercialisation. It will also strengthen the nation’s ability to develop homegrown talent, fostering a skilled workforce capable of driving AI advancements that benefit not only our region but the world.”
The programme aims to equip students with the leadership acumen, financial and legal fundamentals, and essential human skills including management, communication. The programme also embraces a co-pilot education model, which integrates AI into the student’s educational journey. AI will assume a central role in the student learning experience, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and preparing students to excel in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The curriculum will cover advanced topics such as deep learning, generative AI, and AI for science, alongside business and entrepreneurial training. Students will also explore cutting-edge areas including AI for health and medicine, AI for sustainable living, and 3D vision and mixed reality.
Students will have the opportunity to work with global leaders across various domains of AI and gain hands-on experience with the teams who develop state-of-the-art large language models including MBZUAI’s JAIS, the world’s most advanced Arabic LLM, and K2, the only third-party reproducible LLM to outperform major private sector models.
Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, said: “Our undergraduate programme will be the first of its kind, as it integrates AI education with entrepreneurship, problem-discovery, and key skills for a product journey. We are reshaping what it means to be educated in AI—producing not just engineers, but also entrepreneurs, designers, influencers, executives, and visionary innovators prepared to drive AI innovation in every sector at all stages.
“Our students won’t just be taught theory and programming. They will graduate with critical understandings of society and people, of markets and the economy, and the practical experience and confidence to drive and lead AI initiatives, whether within established companies or through their entrepreneurial ventures. We’re focused on preparing our graduates for the rapidly changing landscape of AI.
“We are not just educating students; we are building future generations of workforce and community of AI. With this undergraduate programme, MBZUAI is setting a new standard in AI education, ensuring our graduates are equipped to transform industries and drive global progress.”
MBZUAI’s program, available to both local and international students, offers two specialized tracks: a Bachelor of Science in AI – Business, which focuses on business integration and entrepreneurship, and a Bachelor of Science in AI – Engineering, which centers on AI model development, deployment, and real-world applications across various sectors.
The program includes cross-disciplinary training and practical learning, encouraging students to explore the humanities, business, and a liberal arts curriculum. Students will also participate in co-op industry placements, internships, mentorships, and collaborations with industry leaders and AI research.
