• An official at the launch of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial intelligence in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. AI is central to the UAE's economic growth agenda. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    An official at the launch of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial intelligence in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. AI is central to the UAE's economic growth agenda. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • From left, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Dr Ahmad Al Falasi and Omar Al Olama at the launch of the university. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    From left, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Dr Ahmad Al Falasi and Omar Al Olama at the launch of the university. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The university has teamed up with IBM to open a research centre at its Masdar City campus. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The university has teamed up with IBM to open a research centre at its Masdar City campus. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Self-driving taxis in Abu Dhabi. The UAE intends to become one of the leading AI nations by 2031. AFP
    Self-driving taxis in Abu Dhabi. The UAE intends to become one of the leading AI nations by 2031. AFP
  • MBZUAI has developed a curriculum and programmes that support academic research to contribute to tackling real-world challenges. AFP
    MBZUAI has developed a curriculum and programmes that support academic research to contribute to tackling real-world challenges. AFP
  • A robot outside the Dutch pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai. New districts are being built in the UAE, with artificial intelligence at their core. AFP
    A robot outside the Dutch pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai. New districts are being built in the UAE, with artificial intelligence at their core. AFP
  • Ajman's first self-driving bus goes on its first official drive with Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid, director of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, and Mr Al Olama onboard.
    Ajman's first self-driving bus goes on its first official drive with Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid, director of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, and Mr Al Olama onboard.
  • MBZUAI is the only graduate-level university in the world singularly focused on developing AI tools. Photo: MBZUAI
    MBZUAI is the only graduate-level university in the world singularly focused on developing AI tools. Photo: MBZUAI
  • Through the IBM Skills Academy programme, MBZUAI will have access to lectures, labs, industry use cases and design-thinking sessions. Photo: MBZUAI
    Through the IBM Skills Academy programme, MBZUAI will have access to lectures, labs, industry use cases and design-thinking sessions. Photo: MBZUAI
  • Dr Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and chairman of the MBZUAI board of trustees, has in the past emphasised the UAE's plans to use AI as a transformative tool to support its development. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dr Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and chairman of the MBZUAI board of trustees, has in the past emphasised the UAE's plans to use AI as a transformative tool to support its development. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • MBZUAI offers an executive programme to equip UAE government and business leaders with practical skills to tap into the benefits of cutting-edge technology. AFP
    MBZUAI offers an executive programme to equip UAE government and business leaders with practical skills to tap into the benefits of cutting-edge technology. AFP

MBZUAI ranked among world's top computer science institutions


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The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi has been ranked among the world's top institutions for computer science.

CSRankings rated MBZUAI as the 127th in the world. This ranking places the Abu Dhabi university alongside institutions such as Notre Dame, the University of Liverpool, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Osaka University, Paris's Ecole normale superieure and other prestigious international schools.

In just two years after opening its doors to students, the university has performed well among institutions that conduct research in computer science including AI, systems, theory, and interdisciplinary areas such as robotics, computer graphics, visualisation, and more.

In the areas that MBZUAI currently focuses on — AI, computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing — it has been ranked 30th globally.

For this particular area, it has been placed ahead of several renowned research universities worldwide, such as the University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, and the University of Toronto in North America; Imperial College London, EPFL and the Max Planck Society in Europe; and the University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, and the University of Sydney in the Asia-Pacific region.

MBZUAI can now claim to be the top-ranked CS institution in the Arab world, and in the Middle East and Africa. CSRankings includes Israel as part of Europe.

Carnegie Mellon University; the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Peking University; the University of California, San Diego; Cornell University; the Georgia Institute of Technology; the University of Michigan and Stanford University took the overall top slots.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of MBZUAI's Board of Trustees, said: "Today, MBZUAI has achieved a significant milestone as it has been ranked 30th globally by CSRankings in AI, computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, placing it alongside elite, global research universities.

"This progress would not have been achieved without the vision, guidance and support of the leadership, and the sincere efforts of the MBZUAI team.

"Achieving such recognition is a demonstration of the UAE’s commitment to developing a knowledge-based economy through fostering AI-driven research and innovation, as well as empowering youth to become future leaders in this strategic sector.”

CSRankings says it is entirely metrics-based. Its rankings are designed to identify institutions and faculties actively engaged in computer science research. They take into account the number of research papers and publications by the faculty that have appeared at the most selective conferences in each area of computer science.

MBZUAI was established in October 2019 and is led by Prof Eric Xing who works alongside 33 faculty members that come from organisations that lead the CSRankings list. The university is committed to significant growth in the coming years.

The university is also teaming up with US technology company IBM to open a research centre at its Masdar City campus to develop products.

Graduation ceremony of MBZUAI students in May - in pictures

  • A graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A graduation ceremony at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Jamal Al Kaabi ,undersecretary at the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi.
    Jamal Al Kaabi ,undersecretary at the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi.
  • Ameera Ali Bawazir, a master's student of machine learning, speaks at the event.
    Ameera Ali Bawazir, a master's student of machine learning, speaks at the event.
  • Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE Government.
    Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE Government.
  • Graduates at the ceremony in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
    Graduates at the ceremony in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.
  • Professor Fakhri Karray, provost at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
    Professor Fakhri Karray, provost at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
  • The graduation ceremony.
    The graduation ceremony.
  • Thuraya Al Hashimi, executive director of the digital data enabling sector at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
    Thuraya Al Hashimi, executive director of the digital data enabling sector at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
  • Eric Xing, president of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
    Eric Xing, president of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

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November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Company%20profile
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

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CREW
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South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada
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Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

Updated: June 20, 2022, 2:27 PM