Thirty-seven senior leaders from UAE organizations have graduated from the fifth cohort of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence’s (MBZUAI) Executive Program (MEP). Over the course of 16 weeks, the participants were guided by world-leading AI experts, exploring the transformative potential of AI in addressing societal challenges and driving sustainability across industries.
This year’s cohort represented a diverse mix of government and industry leaders from energy, finance, law, transportation, logistics, health, sports, and education. Among the participants, 57% hailed from the public sector, 86% were UAE nationals, and 68% held C-suite positions or higher, with 19% serving as undersecretaries, secretaries-general, CEOs, or director generals.
Organizations represented in the cohort included the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, the UAE Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement (DGE), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, M42, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Etihad Airways, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), and Emirates Post.
This cohort was the first to experience the newly enhanced MEP, which was extended four weeks longer than previous editions. The program also placed a stronger focus on industry and emphasized the practical application of AI principles across sectors.
Themed as the “Cohort of Sustainability,” the fifth MEP cohort celebrated gender balance, with nearly half of the participants being women.
This diversity brought new perspectives and innovation to the capstone projects, where participants applied their AI knowledge to real-world challenges in support of the UAE’s second Year of Sustainability.
Several capstone projects targeting key national challenges were presented to a judging panel, including an AI-powered system to improve traffic management in Abu Dhabi; an app to address chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity; and an AI-driven platform to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Other projects focused on elevating specific sectors in the UAE, including a personalized learning platform for schools, a solution to bridge the gap between academia, industry, investors, and the government to foster innovation, and a strategy to cultivate a sports culture and industry.
MBZUAI Provost Professor Timothy Baldwin, said: “The fifth MEP cohort exemplifies what is possible when talented leaders are empowered with transformative tools like AI. The participants combined their leadership skills with imagination, empathy, and entrepreneurial thinking, showing what ethical AI can achieve to improve lives. Their six AI solutions hold the potential to address some of society’s most pressing challenges, not only in the UAE but around the world.”
The judging panel selected FalconVision as the winning project for its proposal to gather data that the government and private stakeholders can use for the athletic identification and development of individual children.
As part of their AI community engagement, MEP participants visited ADNOC, DGE, ENEC, and Al Tamimi & Company. In addition to classroom-based learning, they worked on their capstone projects to apply their AI insights in practical, industry-relevant settings.
