Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) Fellowship, a national initiative to train the next generation of Emirati researchers and future AI faculty at world-class institutions in the UAE and beyond.
This fully-funded two-year postdoctoral fellowship supports UAE nationals who have recently completed their Ph.D. Engage in internationally advanced research and build long-term research capabilities in AI and related fields.
RAIS welcomes academics from a wide range of disciplines, from machine learning and data science to engineering, biology, economics and physics, and focuses on candidates whose research relates to all competencies, including AI, computational tools and quantitative methods.
Tamar Solorio, Vice President for Undergraduate Excellence and Advancement and Professor of Natural Language Processing at MBZUAI, said: “RAIS reflects our belief that the future of research in the UAE must be built from within. By supporting our Commonwealth’s academics, we are building a path to a homegrown AI faculty that is globally competitive and deeply connected to the country’s long-term ambitions. We look forward to welcoming our first research students and supporting them as they shape their future.” Dear UAE research leaders. ”
The initiative supports the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which aims to position the UAE as a global leader in AI through continued investment in talent, research and innovation. As the world’s first AI university, MBZUAI plays a central role in advancing these priorities, and RAIS is a direct expression of that commitment.
This fellowship is open to Emirati Ph.D. We target graduates across disciplines and give preference to candidates who demonstrate strong research potential, independence and alignment with the UAE’s long-term research goals. Completion of the fellowship is intended to prepare fellows to serve as tenured faculty members at MBZUAI and comparable institutions.
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Submissions received by mid-April will receive priority consideration and be admitted on a rolling basis through the following month. Selected candidates will begin the program in fall 2026.
For more information, please visit: Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) Postdoctoral Fellowship – MBZUAI
