The National Experts Program - AI Track (NEP-AI) will commence in June in Abu Dhabi. This move will help accelerate the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031 that aims to integrate AI into government operations and key strategic sectors.
NEP-AI supports the UAE National AI Strategy 2031, which seeks to establish the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The strategy focuses on strengthening key sectors, expanding AI use in government services, preparing Emiratis for future jobs, and translating research and innovation into practical applications across industries.
Professionals from 25 different essential fields like Agentic AI, Data Economy and Monetization Models, AI Cybersecurity and Model Protection, and AI for People, Society & National Capability will be united through the initiative.
Participants of the program will receive substantial training in leadership, governance, and AI systems and participate in foreign study trips, mentoring programs, and capstone projects that deal with practical problems of the nation.
H.E. Ahmed Al Shamsi, Director of the National Experts Program says, “the UAE has already proven its status as a global leader in creating AI ecosystems.” “Now, with NEP-AI, it is time to go beyond just adoption and move toward mastery, making sure that we have developed a skilled work force that allows us to maintain our competitive edge in the global arena.”
The launch comes at a time when the government of the UAE is working towards becoming the first nation in the world to use ‘agentic AI’ in the coming two years. Agentic AI is capable of performing tasks on its own and supervising complex operations unlike the conventional model. "NEP-AI, on the other hand, concentrates on building leaders capable of overseeing these systems."
In-depth interviews with the subject matter experts, including NEP Fellows and NEP Alumni, formed a part of the selection process.
Also Read: UAE Launches NEP-AI Program to Train Emiratis in Artificial Intelligence for Critical Sectors
Professor Hoda Alkhzaimi who is a spokesperson for NEP-AI said, “a common thread running through the interview process was an awareness of the UAE National AI Strategy 2031, as well as the understanding that the next wave of change would depend on implementation at the organization level.”
The only logical step after the current trend set up in the UAE would be the establishment of NEP-AI. The United Arab Emirates has always been one of the highest-ranking countries in the world in terms of readiness and implementation of AI technologies in the country.