SARA ALZAABI (DUBAI)

Hundreds of Emirati professionals have expressed interest in the artificial intelligence track of the National Experts Programme (NEP) within two weeks of applications opening, representatives said.

More than 600 applications were submitted after the NEP-AI track launched on January 29, speakers said during roadshows held recently in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Held at the MBZUAI in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in Dubai, the roadshow events brought together NEP alumni, community members, policymakers, and sector leaders. They highlighted how national AI capabilities must advance across governance, compute infrastructure, product development, and responsible deployment.

Discussions also emphasised the importance of developing Emirati expertise and accelerating AI adoption in priority sectors including sustainability, healthcare, education, and mobility.

Since its launch in 2019, NEP has enhanced national leadership capacity across key sectors. The new AI track aligns with the UAE’s strategic priorities, and aims to develop a cadre of Emirati AI leaders.

Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the roadshow, NEP-AI spokesperson Khaled Alnuaimi said the track is designed to strengthen national AI talent and expand sector-wide adoption.

“The expected outcome is to establish this network or base of national Emirati experts in the field of AI and how they can be ambassadors of this momentum in the UAE,” he said.

The programme comes at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping both public and private sectors, making targeted talent development essential to national progress, Alnuaimi added.

He noted that NEP-AI supports the UAE’s ambition to become a global AI hub:
“Programmes like NEP-AI begin by building a talent pool, then applying and developing use cases and ultimately helping the UAE become a global hub.”

During the roadshows, the programme’s key components were tackled, including its cohort-based structure, core modules, dual mentorship model, international study visits, and capstone project requirement.

Emirati professionals with at least five years of experience in AI-related fields may apply for the NEP-AI track until March 23.

Participants will be selected based on strong academic, professional, and leadership credentials, as well the ability to translate expertise into tangible, practical impact.