The Landmark Agreement: Ushering in a New Era for AI at Ajman University

In a significant development for higher education in the United Arab Emirates, Khatib & Alami, a leading multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, signed a cooperation agreement with Ajman University on February 7, 2026, to establish the Khatib & Alami Endowed Chair in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). The ceremony, held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department and Vice Chairman of Ajman University's Board of Trustees, marked a pivotal moment in bridging industry and academia.

The agreement was formalized by Dr. Najib Khatib, Chairman and CEO of Khatib & Alami, and Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University. This AED 5 million endowment represents a sustainable investment, where the principal amount is preserved indefinitely, and the generated returns will perpetually fund the chair's activities. Such endowed chairs are a time-tested model in academia, providing long-term financial stability for specialized research and teaching without relying on annual budgets.

Sheikh Rashid emphasized the importance of flexible higher education systems that produce applicable knowledge, positioning universities as strategic partners in national innovation. Dr. Najib Khatib highlighted the initiative's role in nurturing future talent and fostering academia-private sector collaboration to drive engineering and planning innovations. Dr. Seghir noted its alignment with Ajman University's non-profit mission to channel resources into high-impact areas for social and economic development.

Understanding Khatib & Alami: A Pillar of Engineering Excellence

Khatib & Alami, founded in the early 1960s, is a global multidisciplinary consultancy specializing in architecture, engineering, urban planning, and project management. Operating across 32 offices in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, the firm has been instrumental in landmark projects that shape modern cities, including sustainable infrastructure and smart city developments in the UAE.

The company's commitment to AI stems from its recognition of intelligent systems' transformative potential in engineering solutions. By funding this chair, Khatib & Alami not only invests in talent development but also ensures research outputs directly benefit real-world applications like smarter cities and resilient infrastructure—core to their portfolio. This move exemplifies corporate social responsibility in the UAE, where private sector partnerships with universities are increasingly vital for innovation.

Ajman University's Leadership in AI Education and Research

Ajman University (AU), ranked No. 6 in the UAE and among the global top 100 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, has positioned itself as a frontrunner in AI. Established in 1988, AU became a non-profit institution in recent years, redirecting resources toward research and innovation. Its Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AIRC), launched in 2020, consolidates expertise in AI, robotics, evolutionary computation, and biomedical data science.

AIRC's objectives include cutting-edge research, industry collaborations, advanced training, and entrepreneurship incubation. Achievements encompass over 200 publications in top journals like IEEE Transactions, projects on big data clustering, smart grids, and cybersecurity, and events like AI hackathons and workshops on Python, Unity 3D, and data engineering.

AU offers a comprehensive AI portfolio: Bachelor of Science in AI (foundational concepts, machine learning, ethics), Master of Science in AI (advanced algorithms, data science), and Micro-Master in AI (12-month skill-building in automation and smart systems). These programs prepare graduates for high-demand roles, with AU's MSAI alumni contributing to UAE's tech ecosystem.

• BSc AI: Covers programming, neural networks, computer vision, deployed via capstone projects.
• MSc AI: Focuses on deep learning, natural language processing, research thesis.
• AIRC projects: E.g., MR-VDENCLUE for big data clustering, UAE university topic extraction via ML.

The new chair will amplify these efforts, appointing a distinguished professor to lead initiatives under AIRC.

The Endowed Chair: Structure, Activities, and Sustainability

An endowed academic chair is a prestigious position funded by a permanent endowment, typically naming the donor. At AU, the Khatib & Alami Chair will support:

• Advanced scientific research in AI/ML applications.
• Specialized teaching programs and curriculum development.
• Academic publishing and knowledge dissemination.
• Organization of conferences, workshops, and training.
• Attraction of global talent and student scholarships.

The AED 5 million (~USD 1.36 million) ensures perpetuity: returns (e.g., 4-5% annually from investments) fund operations, while principal grows with inflation. The chair holder, selected per AU regulations, will report periodically, fostering industry-academia synergy.

This model, common in Western universities, is gaining traction in UAE HEIs to build research capacity amid rapid digital transformation.

Alignment with UAE's National AI Strategy 2031

The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 aims to position the country as a global AI leader, generating AED 335 billion in growth by 2031. Key pillars include talent development: upskilling one-third of STEM graduates annually (2000 students), with UAE's 22% STEM graduation rate surpassing the US's 16%.

Higher education is central: initiatives like the National Virtual AI Institute, Key Thinkers Program, and AI Library promote research collaboration. The chair supports these by producing AI experts, R&D in intelligent systems, and training for smarter cities—aligning with UAE Centennial 2071's knowledge economy vision. Recent stats show UAE investing $147 billion in AI since 2024, with universities like Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI (MBZUAI) leading globally.

AU's efforts complement national pushes, where 70% of UAE students expect AI tools in learning, highest globally.

Impacts on Students, Faculty, and the UAE Economy

For students, the chair means expanded scholarships, internships at Khatib & Alami, and hands-on projects in AI for engineering/planning. Faculty gain resources for publications (AU's AIRC already boasts IEEE top-access papers) and global collaborations.

Economically, it addresses workforce gaps: 43% of UAE jobs automatable, impacting 300,000 roles. AI talent from such chairs will drive sectors like construction (Khatib & Alami's domain), boosting GDP via innovation.

Stakeholder perspectives: Industry leaders praise public-private partnerships; academics note enhanced research output. Challenges like ethical AI and faculty shortages are mitigated through targeted training.

Comparative Landscape: AI Initiatives Across UAE Universities

AU joins peers: MBZUAI (world #1 AI research), Khalifa University (STEM expansion), NYU Abu Dhabi (AI ethics). Endowments are rare but growing; e.g., Google funded MBZUAI Arabic AI ($1M). AU's #1 UAE QS AI ranking positions it uniquely.

This ecosystem fosters competition and collaboration, accelerating UAE's AI adoption.

Future Outlook: Conferences, Talent Attraction, and Beyond

Upcoming: Specialized conferences, industry workshops, PhD fellowships. The chair aims to host annual AI symposia, partnering with UAE's AI Council. Long-term: Contribute to UAE AI data centers, smart Ajman projects.

Actionable insights for aspiring AI professionals: Enroll in AU's programs, pursue higher ed jobs in AI research. Track professor ratings at AU for mentorship.

Photo by Javad Esmaeili on Unsplash

Conclusion: A Catalyst for UAE's AI-Driven Future

The Khatib & Alami Endowed Chair exemplifies visionary investment in UAE higher education, propelling Ajman University toward global AI leadership. As the nation strides toward Strategy 2031 goals, such initiatives ensure a skilled workforce ready for tomorrow's challenges.

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