of Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has opened applications for the 2026 class of its Global AI Leadership Program. This is a short-format executive program that focuses on: A.I. Focus on strategy, governance, and policy rather than technical implementation.
The announcement, shared by MBZUAI and its executive education arm The Academy on LinkedIn, comes as governments and large organizations continue to grapple with how artificial intelligence will reshape decision-making, regulation and organizational leadership.
MBZUAI is an Abu Dhabi-based postgraduate research university specializing in artificial intelligence across areas such as policy, strategy and applied research.
The program positions AI as a leadership issue, not a technical one
According to information shared by MBZUAI's Academy, the Global AI Leadership Program is designed for government officials, global executives, and C-level leaders responsible for large-scale organizational transformation.
The five-day in-person program will run from February 6 to February 10, 2026, and will focus on how AI will impact corporate strategy, governance frameworks, risk management, and public policy. The curriculum focuses less on tools and models and more on executive decision-making in an AI-driven environment.
In a LinkedIn post announcing the program, The Academy positioned the initiative as a response to organizations treating AI as a technology project rather than a leadership responsibility.
The 2026 cohort will explore AI-driven strategies, generative and predictive decision-making, and the role of AI in regulation and public policy. Participants are also expected to participate in site visits of organizations implementing AI at scale across sectors such as energy, transportation, cybersecurity, and government services.
MBZUAI places this program within the context of the UAE's national AI strategy, with the university playing a growing role in executive education alongside its academic research mission.
MBZUAI's Academy states that participation is selective and there are limited seats available for the incoming cohort.
