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Overview

Overview

AI Sectorial X is MBZUAI’s flagship cross-sector engagement initiative under National Development Programs & Outreach (NDPO). Designed to integrate and deploy AI across priority industries, Sectorial X brings MBZUAI’s expertise into direct partnership with government bodies, institutions, and sectors – driving cross-sector AI adoption in line with the UAE AI Strategy 2031.

Through collaborative, sector-specific activations, Sectorial X positions MBZUAI as the trusted national front door of AI – bridging research, real-world application, and community impact across the UAE.

Sectors

2031 priority sectors

Sectorial X aligns activations with the UAE’s priority sectors for AI adoption and national development.

Education and future skills

Agriculture and food security

Energy and environment

Arts and
music

Healthcare and life sciences

Government and public services

Offerings

Our offerings

Sectorial X delivers a variety of activations across priority sectors, tailoring the format to partners’ specific needs.

Activation formats

Sector forums and sessions

Panel-style or roundtable engagements at major sector events. We embed MBZUAI into existing high-profile platforms alongside sector partners.

Long-term research partnerships

Multi-year, data-driven programs where MBZUAI leads or co-leads alongside clinical or institutional partners. These are our deepest engagements.

On-campus workshops and youth circles

Hands-on sessions hosted at MBZUAI – typically at the Data Observatory. We provide the venue, branding, and AI content. Partners bring the audience and topic framing.

Creative and cultural AI experiences

Performances, exhibitions, and interactive experiences that bring AI into arts, music, and storytelling contexts. These reach audiences we wouldn’t typically access through STEM channels.

Competitive and interactive activations

Tournaments, challenges, and gamified AI experiences designed to engage students and young audiences. High energy, high visibility.

National awareness activations

Aligning MBZUAI with internationally recognized dates and national campaigns to position our brand within broader public conversations.

What we offer in every engagement

  • AI content and expertise – MBZUAI faculty, research insights, and technical demonstrations tailored to the sector
  • Venue and infrastructure – Data Observatory, campus spaces, branded materials (e.g. MBZUAI logo cubes)
  • Partner coordination – End-to-end management of the relationship with government and institutional partners
  • Event design and delivery – Concept development, logistics, on-the-day execution, and post-event reporting

Impact at a glance

1,050+

Participants engaged across all activations

5

Activations delivered and upcoming

10+

Entities partnered with

4

Priority sectors covered

Activations

Completed activations

Sector: Education & Future Skills Date: July 2025 Partner: Ministry of Interior

An activation aligned with International Youth Skills Day, positioning MBZUAI within national youth development conversations and showcasing AI’s role in building future-ready talent.

Sector: Energy & Environment Date: October 2025 Partner: ADNOC

MBZUAI participated in the Youth Energy Majlis at ADIPEC alongside ADNOC, engaging youth with AI’s role in the energy sector and the US-UAE Energy Partnership.

Sector: Arts & Music Date: November 2025 Partner: Abu Dhabi Art Festival

A creative AI performance staged at the Abu Dhabi Art Festival – bridging artificial intelligence with artistic expression, showcasing how AI and the arts can coexist and inspire new forms of creative storytelling.

Sector: Energy & Environment Date: January 2026 Partner: IRENA (alongside Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week)

MBZUAI joined the IRENA Youth Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week to engage youth on AI-enabled solutions for renewable energy and climate action.

Sector: Education & Future Skills / Government & Public Services Partner: Abu Dhabi Youth Council (ADYC) / FYA’s Shabab AI Initiative

FYA’s Shabab AI initiative brought 30+ youth and attendees to MBZUAI campus for a workshop at the Data Observatory.

What we hosted

  • checkmark iconShabab AI Youth Circle workshop at the Data Observatory
  • checkmark iconMBZUAI provided the venue and branded MBZUAI logo cubes

Outcomes

  • checkmark icon30+ participants including youth and VIPs – brand exposure to entities including AD Ports, CSC, and others
  • checkmark iconStrong engagement with valuable ideas discussed around bridging the gap between AI skills and market needs
  • checkmark iconIdentified potential collaboration opportunities and challenges for youth
  • checkmark iconAreas of support from partners to accelerate the Shabab AI initiative
“Thank you for hosting us and supporting the Shabab AI initiative. We truly appreciate your collaboration and commitment to empowering youth in artificial intelligence. Today’s session resulted in strong engagement from +30 participants, with valuable ideas discussed around bridging the gap between AI skills and market needs.” — Fatima Al Suwaidi, Abu Dhabi Youth Council

Bigger picture

  • checkmark iconPositions MBZUAI Outreach efforts within national youth and AI circles
  • checkmark iconBuilds MBZUAI’s name as AI leaders within the local community
  • checkmark iconDirect reach and visibility within a nationally backed youth community
  • checkmark iconOriginally planned to launch at MBZUAI – moved to Make it in the Emirates May 7th due to weather
Programs

Upcoming programs

In development

Human Phenotype Project (HPP) – Abu Dhabi Cohort

Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences Target Launch: May 2026 Partner: MBZUAI (lead) · IHLAD (clinical delivery)

The Human Phenotype Project is a global research initiative designed to understand how human health evolves over time – before disease develops. The Abu Dhabi Cohort is the UAE’s entry into this global network: a 10-year study collecting deep phenotype data from 4,500 UAE citizens and residents.

Key facts

  • checkmark icon4,500 participants targeted · 10-year study duration
  • checkmark iconFree baseline visit (~2–3 hours) at the IHLAD laboratory
  • checkmark iconParticipants receive personalized health reports
  • checkmark iconData stays exclusively in the UAE, governed under UAE regulations
  • checkmark iconPart of a global initiative with 28,000+ enrolled and 13,000+ baseline visits completed worldwide

HPP shifts healthcare from treating disease to preventing it – generating UAE-specific health insights for personalized and preventive care, supporting Abu Dhabi’s advanced risk and disease detection agenda.

In development

AI Arena: Beat the AI – Abu Dhabi Gaming × MBZUAI

Sector: Education & Future Skills / Arts & Music Date: First Week of May 2026 Partner: Abu Dhabi Gaming (DCT) Lead: Mohammed AlNeyadi

A two-day campus esports tournament where the best student competitors earn the right to face the hardest available AI opponent in a live, on-stage showdown – the “Beat the AI” challenge.

Event structure

  • checkmark icon Phase 1 – Qualifiers (Day 1): Round of 32, single/double elimination. Up to 8 Gaming PCs + 6 Consoles running simultaneously.
  • checkmark icon Phase 2 – Semi-Finals & Finals (Day 2): Top competitors move to main stage with live shoutcasting and audience engagement.
  • checkmark icon Phase 3 – AI Boss Match (Day 2): Each game champion faces the hardest AI difficulty on stage. Winner receives the “AI Slayer Award.”

Proposed games

EA FC 26 · Street Fighter 6 · Counter-Strike 2

Metrics & status

64+ student participants · 30+ audience at finals · 150m² venue space

Status: In progress – AD Gaming working on updated operational deck. On venue visit scheduled to check MUH. Online competition also on the table.