By Nash Seman
In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, a surprising new destination is emerging for U.S. students eager to dive into the field: Abu Dhabi. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), located in the UAE’s capital, is drawing record interest from American undergraduates, signaling a shift in the global competition for AI talent. This trend reflects not only the UAE’s ambitious push to become a leader in AI but also the growing allure of its cutting-edge educational opportunities.
MBZUAI, the world’s first graduate-level university dedicated solely to AI, has seen a surge in applications for its month-long Undergraduate Research Internship Program. In 2025, nearly 2,000 students from dozens of countries applied for just 57 spots, almost double the previous year’s applicants. Remarkably, one in four participants hailed from U.S. campuses, including top computer science programs like Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California, and University of Illinois. “AI is a field driven by continuous research and development,” said Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI’s provost and professor of natural language processing. He attributes the university’s appeal to its direct engagement with leading U.S. institutions, faculty referrals, and Abu Dhabi’s reputation as an early adopter of AI technology.
The internship serves as a gateway to MBZUAI’s graduate programs, with many participants applying for its Master’s and PhD degrees in fields like machine learning, computer vision, and robotics. This year, the university also launched its first undergraduate program, offering bachelor’s degrees in AI business and AI engineering, further broadening its appeal. The UAE government sweetens the deal with full scholarships for all students, covering tuition, monthly stipends, health insurance, and accommodation—a move designed to attract the brightest minds globally. However, the government retains ownership of intellectual property generated on campus, a point that has sparked debate about the balance between innovation and control.
MBZUAI’s rise is part of the UAE’s broader vision to transform itself into a global AI hub. Established in 2019, the university aligns with the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil and position the country as a leader in AI innovation. The university’s president, Eric Xing, a former professor at Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, envisions MBZUAI as the “Stanford of the Gulf,” fostering a pipeline of AI talent for industries like energy, healthcare, and government. Recent milestones, such as the development of Jais, a large language model for Arabic, and the launch of the Institute of Foundation Models in Silicon Valley, underscore MBZUAI’s global ambitions.
For U.S. students, the appeal lies in more than just scholarships. MBZUAI offers access to cutting-edge research facilities and collaborations with global tech giants, as well as the chance to work on real-world projects in healthcare, language processing, and robotics. The university’s strategic partnerships, including with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and international institutions like École Polytechnique, provide unique opportunities for innovation. Yet, some critics raise concerns about the UAE’s authoritarian governance and its ties to China, questioning the long-term reliability of such partnerships in a field as sensitive as AI.
The growing interest from U.S. students highlights a broader trend: the globalization of AI education. As the U.S. and China have long dominated AI development, MBZUAI’s emergence challenges the status quo, offering a new hub for talent in the Global South. With its state-of-the-art campus in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City and a focus on practical applications, MBZUAI is not just educating students—it’s shaping the future of AI. As one Emirati student, Salem Almarri, put it, “AI will give humanity a chance to develop a new world based on better solutions.” For American students, Abu Dhabi is becoming a surprising but compelling stop on that journey.
