NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has launched of a master’s degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MIDSAI), further strengthening its growing portfolio of graduate programmes and reinforcing its role in advancing the UAE’s knowledge economy. This milestone comes as Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the world’s top 35 universities, making NYUAD the highest globally ranked university in the UAE.
Building on NYU’s long-established excellence in Computer Science, ranked 17 globally in Computer Science and AI by QS, MIDSAI is designed as a research-intensive, two-year programme that develops advanced data science and AI expertise. Distinct from other regional programmes, MIDSAI is interdisciplinary by design, drawing on faculty from Data Science, Science, Engineering, and the Social Sciences. Students will also benefit from NYU’s global network through opportunities to collaborate across campuses in Abu Dhabi, New York, and Shanghai. Competitive merit scholarships will be available for international applicants. Applications are now open for MIDSAI, with the first cohort expected to begin inautumn 2026.
Alongside this development, NYUAD welcomed the inaugural cohort of its PhD in Astrophysics and Space Systems (PASS) programme, the first-of-its kind in the UAE and the wider region, which includes six students, half of whom are Emirati. The programme reflects the university’s deepening role in cultivating homegrown expertise in areas central to the UAE’s national priorities, including the space sector.
Fabio Piano, NYUAD’s current Vice Chancellor, said: “Graduate education is at the heart of NYU Abu Dhabi’s next chapter. With the launch of the MIDSAI programme, the continued success of PASS, and the expansion of Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi through the one-year MBA and the recently launched Executive MBA, we are proud to be shaping programmes that not only meet the demands of the global economy but also align closely with the UAE’s vision for innovation and talent development. As our graduate offerings expand, so too does our impact through cutting-edge research, a global network, and a community of students and alumni who are making a difference both locally and internationally.”
NYUAD now has more than 2,200 students, with approximately 60 per cent of graduates choosing to stay in the UAE after completing their studies, directly contributing to the country’s workforce and economy. Alumni achievements include 24 Rhodes Scholars, underscoring the calibre of talent nurtured at the university.
On the faculty and research front, NYUAD now has four Nobel Laureates, has established more than 90 faculty labs and projects, producing over 9,500 internationally recognised publications. According to the Nature Index, NYUAD ranks number one in the UAE for publications in the world’s top science journals (Nature Index).
