Abu dhabi: The Mohammed bin Rashid Government Scholarships initiative has announced the opening of registration for its academic programmes starting in March 2026, in cooperation with a select group of leading regional and international universities and academic institutions.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative aims to enhance the UAE Government’s readiness for the coming decade by preparing qualified government professionals. These professionals will be equipped to meet future requirements, lead economic growth, advance digital transformation, and formulate knowledge-based and innovation-driven public policy.
The initiative’s first project offers scholarships for a Master’s degree in Economic and Public Policy and a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence in the Government Sector. Interested candidates can register through the website www.mbrgs.ae, with the deadline set for 28th December 2025. The Master’s degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence is developed in cooperation with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), ranked among the top 20 universities worldwide in AI. This programme, designed exclusively for government professionals, combines advanced academic study with practical application, including intensive laboratory work, hackathons, lectures by visiting experts, and sector-related skills development. The study will begin in March 2026 and continue for 24 months, with most sessions held in the evenings and on weekends at the MBZUAI campus in Abu Dhabi.
Participants in the AI programme will acquire practical skills to design sustainable AI solutions, develop initiatives based on advanced technologies, enhance capabilities in data analysis, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving, apply AI across various sectors, and lead multidisciplinary teams. They will also benefit from MBZUAI’s research environment and academic network.
The initiative also includes the Master of Science in Economics programme, developed in cooperation with New York University Abu Dhabi. The programme is set to begin in March 2026 for a duration of 18 months, plus seven weeks of preparatory courses. Participants will learn from world-class faculty and engage in theoretical and applied projects. They will develop advanced analytical and quantitative skills, translate economic theory into practice, and gain a global perspective through the New York University academic network.
Additionally, registration is open for the Oxford Executive Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Business, developed in cooperation with the University of Oxford Sad Business School. This one-year programme, commencing in March 2026, includes components designed exclusively to support government professionals. It enables participants to translate AI into strategic value through four intensive modules delivered in Oxford and Dubai.
The first project under the Mohammed bin Rashid Government Scholarships initiative seeks to empower promising national talent across UAE government entities by enabling them to enrol in advanced academic programmes developed with leading global universities known for their excellence in economic strategies, international policy, and AI in the government sector. These universities were selected based on the latest global rankings for 2026 and their record of academic distinction.