As part of a delegation of educators, counselors, and global education leaders, I traveled to Abu Dhabi for an in-depth look at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the UAE’s rapidly expanding vision for AI-driven education. The trip was sponsored by MBZUAI. Over several days, I toured some of the city’s most significant cultural sites—including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the cultural district on Saadiyat Island—while engaging directly with university leadership, faculty, and the undergraduate admissions team.
What MBZUAI is building is unmistakably ambitious. Their strategy is simple and bold: create a world-class university from scratch with AI at the center; recruit top young talent from around the globe; and blend rigorous technical training with entrepreneurship. Their new undergraduate program is intentionally selective, maintaining small class sizes, strong faculty mentorship, and an academic culture that feels closer to a startup than a traditional university.
I met several students from their first cohort—a group representing more than 150 countries and a wide range of technical, creative, and competitive backgrounds. They are sharp, curious, and deeply motivated. They reminded me of the students I work with every day: bright minds looking for the right environment to challenge and stretch them.
Abu Dhabi itself made an equally strong impression. The city is positioning itself as a global AI hub, supported by massive infrastructure investments, partnerships with top technology companies, and a national goal of giving every student an AI tutor. Throughout the trip, I connected with professionals from Uzbekistan, India, Korea, Vietnam, the U.S., Argentina, and across the Middle East—each exploring how AI education will shape opportunities for students in their own communities.
The takeaway was obvious: the UAE isn’t experimenting with innovation—it’s building an ecosystem designed to accelerate the next generation of global tech and AI leaders.
From a college coaching perspective, the opportunity at MBZUAI is unlike anything else available right now. This is a compelling option for a bold, highly capable student who is open to a different cultural experience and wants to immerse themselves in the future rather than tradition. Every student admitted currently receives a full-tuition scholarship. The campus is located in one of the safest cities in the world, the facilities are impressive, and campus housing rivals some of the strongest residential experiences in the U.S.
But the true differentiator is the faculty: world-class AI specialists who care deeply about teaching, mentorship, and continuous improvement through student feedback. It’s rare to see a university so intentionally built around student success, innovation, and future-focused learning.
Admission to MBZUAI is highly competitive, but for students looking to gain an edge and pursue a college experience that breaks from the traditional path—a program designed entirely around the future of AI—this is a destination worth serious consideration.
To learn more, visit the MBZUAI Undergraduate Admissions Office.