The Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications has announced the opening of applications for the seventh cohort of the Artificial Intelligence Program, which will run from September 2026 through January 2027 under the supervision of the National Program for Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
This year’s cohort will focus on generative artificial intelligence and assistive artificial intelligence, continuing efforts to develop specialized national skills and prepare talent to work with the latest technological advancements and apply them across different fields.
Supporting the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Ambitions
The seventh cohort is being organized as part of the National Program for Artificial Intelligence’s efforts to support the priorities of the UAE Government and its vision to strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for advanced technologies and innovation.
The program also comes amid a broader government drive to transform 50% of government sectors, services, and operations into operating models based on assistive artificial intelligence within two years. The move, considered the first of its kind globally, aims to enhance government efficiency and expand the use of advanced technologies across public-sector operations.
Omar Al Olama: National Talent Is at the Heart of Building the Future
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, affirmed that “the UAE Government focuses on developing national skills and competencies, driven by its belief that talent is a key engine for shaping the future and a cornerstone for strengthening the country’s leadership in the artificial intelligence economy.”
His Excellency said that “the program embodies the UAE’s vision of moving from adopting technology to leading it and shaping its global direction, by preparing talent capable of using artificial intelligence as a tool to drive change, redesign operating models, and enhance the efficiency of vital sectors,” noting that investment in talent represents a direct investment in the country’s competitiveness and sustainable growth.
Technical and Leadership Skills for the Future
The Artificial Intelligence Program focuses on refining participants’ skills and developing both their technical and leadership capabilities, enabling them to design innovative solutions and apply them in real working environments across different sectors.
The program also provides participants with access to the latest tools and knowledge in artificial intelligence, while giving them opportunities to keep pace with global developments in assistive AI and generative AI. This approach is designed to strengthen their ability to use emerging technologies to improve operating models, productivity, and overall efficiency.
Assistive AI Takes Center Stage in the New Cohort
One of the key features of the new cohort is its strong focus on assistive artificial intelligence, alongside introducing participants to core and advanced concepts related to generative and assistive AI, as well as data strategies for machine learning.
Participants will also explore the capabilities of assistive artificial intelligence across different fields, in addition to learning about the development, governance, and deployment of these systems through five specialized modules included in the program’s academic plan.
The curriculum is designed to give participants a broader understanding of how artificial intelligence can be integrated into organizations and how theoretical knowledge can be turned into practical applications that improve productivity, operations, and services.
Developing a New Generation of Artificial Intelligence Leaders
The program seeks to develop a new generation of artificial intelligence leaders and talent while building national capabilities that can contribute to strengthening the UAE’s leadership in AI-related initiatives and projects.
It also aims to support the development of more flexible and sustainable operating systems across different sectors by providing participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills that enable them to design and implement innovative solutions suited to organizational needs.
Accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies is one of the program’s main objectives, in line with the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance its global competitiveness and prepare different sectors to benefit from the economic and technological opportunities created by AI.
Two Tracks: Technical and Professional
The program offers two different tracks, allowing participants to choose the path that best matches their experience and professional responsibilities.
The technical track is designed for developers and engineers with extensive artificial intelligence experience. It covers areas including architecture, programming, model development, and practical applied experiments that help participants turn technical concepts into workable solutions.
The professional track is designed for leaders, strategists, and non-technical professionals. It focuses on the strategic applications of artificial intelligence, governance, the evaluation of technology vendors, and planning for digital adoption within organizations.
