Abu Dhabi professionals can now earn an AI master's

For working professionals in Abu Dhabi who have watched artificial intelligence reshape their industries, a new pathway is opening. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has launched a Master’s in Management of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, a two-year, English-taught programme built around the realities of people who hold jobs by day and study by night. Classes run in the evening. For selected courses, students can shift to a blended format that combines 70 percent on-campus instruction with 30 percent online learning.

The first cohort begins in September 2026, which falls during SUAD’s Year of Artificial Intelligence. The timing is deliberate. The university frames the programme as part of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, both aimed at building a globally competitive, AI-enabled economy. But behind the policy language sits a simpler human question: who will actually lead this transformation, and how will they be trained to do it responsibly?

Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, addressed that question directly. “Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and creating new opportunities, making it increasingly important to prepare graduates with both technological expertise and a strong understanding of ethics and responsible innovation,” she said. “Developed in collaboration with the Sorbonne Centre for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), this programme reflects our commitment to preparing future leaders to harness artificial intelligence responsibly and drive meaningful, positive impact across industries.”

The curriculum reflects that dual ambition. Students will move through an interdisciplinary mix of management, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, governance, ethics and innovation, earning 120 ECTS credits over four semesters. Practical experience is built in through industry projects, real-world case studies, a professional internship and a research-based Master’s thesis. Teaching comes from internationally recognised Sorbonne faculty based in Paris and Abu Dhabi, and small class sizes are intended to give students personalised academic support and direct contact with academics and industry practitioners.

For Professor Dr Lama Tarsissi, Head of programme and Associate Professor in Mathematics, the human dimension is central. “As artificial intelligence becomes a defining force across every sector, organisations need leaders who can understand both the technology and the strategic decisions that shape its adoption,” she said. “This programme has been carefully designed to bridge the worlds of AI, business and innovation, equipping students with the analytical, managerial and technical expertise needed to lead AI-driven transformation responsibly.” By combining academic excellence with applied learning, industry engagement and exposure to cutting-edge research, she added, graduates will be prepared to develop ethical, data-driven solutions that address real-world challenges and create lasting value for organisations, communities and society.

Tarsissi announced the programme at the Quantum Innovation Summit in Dubai on 30 September 2026, where she spoke on “Managing the AI Revolution”. She was joined there by fellow SUAD academics Dr Stavros Christopoulos and Professor Giulia De Masi, who also participated as speakers.

Meanwhile, the degree itself carries weight beyond Abu Dhabi. It is awarded by Sorbonne Université and accredited by the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Graduates are expected to move into roles across the public and private sectors, including technology, consulting, government, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, leading AI strategy, digital transformation and responsible AI adoption.

The university behind the programme has deep roots in the capital. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi was established in May 2006 as the first French university in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and through a partnership between Sorbonne University in Paris and the Government of Abu Dhabi. Its 93,000 sqm campus on Al Reem Island hosts more than 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across three schools, and its community includes over 3,200 graduates from more than 90 nationalities. Applications and further details are available at https://www.sorbonne.ae/programme/master-in-management-of-innovation-artificial-intelligence.

For the professionals balancing spreadsheets by day and coursework by night, the question now is whether September 2026 will arrive quickly enough to keep pace with the AI transformation already underway in their workplaces.