Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) Fellowship, a fully funded postdoctoral programme designed to develop the UAE's next generation of homegrown AI researchers and faculty (per the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office and Khaleej Times).
What the fellowship offers
RAIS is a two-year, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship that places Emirati PhD graduates at leading international research institutions in AI and related fields (per Aletihad News Center). The programme is intended to build long-term research capability inside the UAE by sending scholars abroad and then channelling them into faculty roles back home.
Who can apply
The fellowship is open to UAE nationals who have recently completed a PhD across a wide range of disciplines, including machine learning, data science, engineering, biology, economics and physics, with a focus on research that engages AI, computational tools or quantitative methods (per the MBZUAI programme page). Priority is given to candidates with strong research potential and clear alignment with the UAE's long-term science and technology goals.
Selection and timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to submissions received by mid-April 2026 (per Zawya). Selected fellows are expected to start in Fall 2026. Middle East AI News reports the cohort size has not been disclosed publicly, but the initial intake is expected to be selective and small.
Pipeline to faculty roles
Completion of the fellowship is intended to prepare scholars for tenure-track faculty roles at MBZUAI and peer institutions in the UAE and abroad (per ITP.net). Khaleej Times notes that the broader aim is to address a structural shortage of senior Emirati AI faculty as the university and the country expand AI research capacity.
Why it matters
MBZUAI, founded in 2019 and based in Masdar City, was the world's first graduate-level research university dedicated to AI. Its launch of RAIS sits alongside national programmes such as the UAE National Strategy for AI 2031 and ongoing investments in compute, data infrastructure and applied AI sectors. Business Today Middle East reports the fellowship complements existing MBZUAI scholarships for masters and PhD students by closing the postdoctoral gap that often pushes early-career researchers abroad permanently.
How to apply
Eligible candidates can apply through the MBZUAI website, which lists eligibility criteria, required documents and recommended host institutions abroad. The university says it will work with each fellow to match research interests with leading global laboratories before placement.
