University of Dubai and AIJRF launch the first Arab initiative in academic research and AI technologies
A Regional Step Forward in Academic Innovation
His Excellency Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, emphasized that this initiative is aligned with the key recommendations announced at the conclusion of the 5th edition of the Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF), particularly those drawn from the inaugural report of the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU). The findings underscored the urgent need to integrate AI tools and technologies into both Academic Research and teaching practices across Arab universities.
Dr. Al Bastaki stated: 'The current initiative, 'Arab AI Researchers (AAIR),' aims to enhance the skills of Arab researchers and academics in embedding AI technologies and tools into teaching methods, curricula, and academic research. It promotes the optimal use of artificial intelligence in higher education across all academic levels, from undergraduate to postgraduate.'
Fostering a Widespread Educational Transformation
His Excellency Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai and the president of the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities (AIU), highlighted the importance of this initiative in reaching a wide audience of researchers. He noted that it offers a specialized training program to help integrate AI applications into both educational practices and academic research processes across all levels of study.
A Specialized AI Training Program for Academia
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Abdulzaher, CEO of AIJRF, stressed the initiative's role in launching such a highly specialized training program. This program is designed to teach participants the fundamentals and applications of AI tools in both theoretical and applied research, while also enabling them to analyze research data using AI, yielding faster and more efficient outcomes.
Dr. Abdulzaher added: 'The program will also introduce participants to innovative AI-based teaching approaches -from smart classroom practices and automated assignments to AI-generated project ideas- along with the ethical principles guiding the use of AI in education.'
Initiative Objectives
Enhance researchers' skills in using AI tools and applications in all areas of Academic Research, in an objective and academically sound manner.
Integrate AI tools and technologies into the educational process within universities and educational institutions at all levels: undergraduate and postgraduate.
Promote a new understanding of how to present ideas for studies, master's and doctoral thesis, and international publications when addressing AI tools and technologies.
Empower Arab researchers and academics to use AI tools and technologies in scientific research, in accordance with international best practices.
Empower Arab researchers and academics to integrate AI tools and technologies into scientific research using global best practices.
Enhance the integration of AI in higher education by developing innovative teaching methods based on intelligent data analysis and interactive learning.
Build a specialized Arab knowledge community focused on AI applications in education and research through knowledge exchange, workshops, and training programs.
Provide Arabic-language resources and guidelines to support the effective incorporation of AI into university curricula, while considering local academic and cultural contexts.
Promote Arab scientific research in the field of AI in education, and encourage the publication of academic work at both regional and international levels.
Foster ethical and critical thinking in the use of AI in educational settings by raising awareness of the risks and challenges of emerging technologies.
Develop strategic partnerships between universities, research centers, and institutions involved in technology and education to support digital academic transformation across the Arab world.
Expected Outcomes
Master the use of AI tools and applications in academic research.
Utilize AI in data analysis to derive faster and more accurate conclusions.
Embed AI into smart curricula and classroom strategies, including automated assignment creation, grading, and project development.
Understand and apply the ethical principles of artificial intelligence.
Acquire technical and cognitive skills necessary for AI application in academia.
Systematically and effectively integrate AI into teaching methods and curricula.
Design and develop AI-based academic research in line with global academic standards.
Optimize AI usage in university education to improve quality and digital transformation.
Prepare a new generation of Arab researchers capable of leading innovation in educational and technological institutions.
Training Methodology and Tools
10 AI tools for research writing and scientific publishing
5 AI applications for classroom management
5 AI tools for managing student projects, assignments, and assessments
Program Duration and Certification
The training program is conducted three times annually
Each round includes 150 participants
The program spans 4 intensive days, totaling 15 practical training hours
Participants who submit a final research or educational project will receive an accredited certificate from:
Artificial Intelligence Journalism Foundation (AIJRF)
University of Dubai
Other participating universities
About AIJRF
Founded in 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF) is the world's first global research organization dedicated to the study of media, artificial intelligence, content creation, media of Metaverse, the Fourth & Fifth Industrial Revolution, and humanities. It was established by a group of professors and academic researchers specializing in these fields.
AIJRF leads over 20 international initiatives in artificial intelligence, including the Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum (AIJWF), the Global Artificial Intelligence Journalism Index (GAIJI), the Arab Artificial Intelligence Index in Universities (AIU), the AI Skills Camp for Students, AI Skills Challenge for University undergraduates and the Arab AI Researchers (AAIR) initiative.
AIJRF offers more than 120 training programs, including a professional diploma in: content creation and artificial intelligence, AI technologies and smart government services, AI and media industries, media of Metaverse, and AI in education, among more than 20 specialized training tracks. These programs aim to integrate AI tools and solutions into key professional and educational sectors.
In 2021, AIJRF has published the world's first ethical and professional guide for AI-powered content creation, titled: The Artificial Intelligence Journalism and Professional Code of Ethics. In 2024, it released the second edition under the title: The Artificial Intelligence Journalism Professional Ethics and Codes of Conduct (AIJEC).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Business
2 hours ago
- Gulf Business
IHC rebrands eFunder as Zelo following acquisition
Image: IHC/ X International Holding Company ( The platform has also been rebranded as Zelo, signalling a new chapter for the company. Fully licensed and regulated by ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Zelo has been operating since August 2020, delivering receivables-based funding to address the region's SME working capital gap. It provides fast, digital-first access to liquidity by converting approved invoices into working capital within 24 to 48 hours. Following the acquisition by IHC, Zelo now enters a new chapter as part of the The platform addresses one of the region's most pressing challenges: a nearly$250bn SME credit gap across the Middle East and North Africa. While SMEs account for over 95 per cent of the UAE's registered businesses and generate more than half of national GDP, many face delays of 60 to 120 days in receiving payment for approved invoices, restricting growth and operational agility. Zelo bridges this gap by offering a seamless, technology-driven platform for invoice financing across priority industries, including construction, logistics, healthcare, industrial services, and oil and gas. IHC aims to build smart, scalable solutions and value networks that deliver impact Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: 'SMEs are the backbone of a diversified and future-ready economy. Through our strategic acquisition of Zelo, we are proud to support a platform that solves one of the most fundamental barriers facing SMEs, access to timely working capital. 'This rebrand signals a confident new chapter, one that is fully aligned with IHC's long-term vision of building smart, scalable solutions and dynamic value networks that deliver real and lasting economic impact.' Dhanush Arjun, CEO of Zelo, said: 'Zelo exists to eliminate the wait. The wait for payments, the wait for growth, the wait for opportunity. Our rebrand signals not just a new name, but a renewed commitment to SMEs in the UAE who deserve faster, smarter access to capital. With IHC's strategic backing, we're accelerating that future.' Zelo has deployed more than $200m in funding Zelo's platform is purpose-built for speed and simplicity, offering a fully digital onboarding experience, automated funding decisions, and near-instant access to capital, eliminating cash flow delays and accelerating reinvestment into growth. The platform also scales financing limits in line with business performance, creating a responsive and frictionless funding experience. Zelo's operations continue to be led by the co-founders of eFunder – Dhanush Arjun (CEO) and Deepak Sekar (COO), supported by a seasoned group of professionals with deep expertise in fintech, SME lending, and digital infrastructure. To date, the platform has facilitated over 9,000 transactions and deployed more than $200m in funding, a testament to its impact and scalability within the region's SME ecosystem.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Energy and Innovation summit: Trump says $92bn to be invested in Pennsylvania for AI and tech
US President Donald Trump pushed his vision on powering energy-hungry artificial intelligence, during the first Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit. At a discussion on Tuesday, Mr Trump claimed that more than 20 technology and energy companies had decided to invest $92 billion in Pennsylvania. "This is really a triumphant day for the people of the Commonwealth," he told the event, led by Republican US Senator Dave McCormick, in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University. 'This summit is about catalysing $90 billion of investment and tens of thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania,' Mr McCormick said. He also referred to the increasingly adversarial relationship between the US and China as he set the stage for the day's agenda. 'If we don't lead this AI revolution on our own terms, we will hand control of our infrastructure, data, leadership and way of life to the Chinese Communist Party,' Mr McCormick said. With AI continuing to expand into all aspects of life, the burden it places on the US energy grid is becoming more of an issue, as policymakers try to keep America leading the global race for AI dominance. According to a report from the US Energy Department, data centres used about 4.4 per cent of total electricity in the country in 2024. By 2028, that share could increase to 12 per cent. By most estimates, a query to ChatGPT uses 10 times more energy than a similar search on Google. The event has featured panels and discussions on energy and AI, including how to best meet the energy needs created by the technology, and looking at the efficiencies that AI could create in the years ahead. There were also discussions about the need for data centres to keep up with the AI investment boom and increased user demand. During the opening panel discussion, alternative asset management firm Blackstone made a $25 billion investment in building data centres in Pennsylvania. Investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the world are attending the event. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mubadala's managing director and chief executive and chairman of the UAE Executive Affairs Authority, made the trip to Pittsburgh. Lim Chow Kiat, chief executive of Singapore's Government Investment Corporation, was also invited. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were among the White House officials in attendance. Alex Karp, chief executive of AI firm Palantir, Joseph Dominguez, Constellation Energy chief, and Jake Loosararian, founder of Gecko Robotics, also took part. As proof of how bipartisan AI and energy issues have become, Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, a staunch critic of Mr Trump and a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential race, is scheduled to attend. For coal, fracking and even nuclear power, Pennsylvania has become the centre of the US energy renaissance. A few weeks ago, Mr Shapiro attended a nuclear energy rally to celebrate a partnership with Microsoft at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the state, which will soon reopen under a different name. Nuclear energy is seen by many supporters of AI as a way to strengthen the energy grid as use of the technology expands. But critics fear the content of the event will be taken over by politics. A day before the event, Carnegie Mellon University's president, Farnam Jahanian, acknowledged the politically charged backdrop against which the conference was taking place. 'I recognise that CMU's decision to host the summit has prompted concern and disagreement among some members of our community,' Mr Jahanian said, pointing out his disagreements with Mr Trump on issues concerning education funding. 'At the same time, I firmly believe that higher education must be a convener – a catalyst for ideas and partnerships that shape our future.' On Tuesday, Mr Jahanian said CMU, with its roots in technology, was the perfect host for the summit, which was a 'defining moment for our country and humanity'. He said AI was 'the most important intellectual development of our time'.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
IHC aompletes acquisition of eFunder and rebrands the platform as Zelo
IHC rebrands eFunder as Zelo following acquisition. Zelo, the UAE's premier invoice financing platform, targets one of the region's biggest financing gaps — a USD 250 billion SME credit shortfall across MENA. The strategic rebrand of Zelo reinforces IHC's commitment to fintech innovation and advancing SME enablement. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: IHC, a global investment company focused on building dynamic value networks, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of eFunder, the UAE's pioneering private financing platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform has now been rebranded as Zelo, marking a new chapter in its evolution, aimed at scaling its impact and expanding access to capital for the region's most dynamic businesses. Fully licensed and regulated by ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Zelo has been operating since August 2020, delivering receivables-based funding to address the region's SME working capital gap. Zelo provides fast, digital-first access to liquidity by converting approved invoices into working capital within 24 to 48 hours. Following the acquisition by IHC, Zelo now enters a new chapter as part of IHC's broader commitment to enabling future-ready economies through responsible investment and fintech innovation. The platform addresses one of the region's most pressing challenges: a nearly USD 250 billion SME credit gap across the Middle East and North Africa. While SMEs account for over 95% of the UAE's registered businesses and generate more than half of national GDP, many face delays of 60 to 120 days in receiving payment for approved invoices restricting growth and operational agility. Zelo bridges this gap by offering a seamless, technology-driven platform for invoice financing across priority industries, including construction, logistics, healthcare, industrial services, and oil & gas. Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: 'SMEs are the backbone of a diversified and future-ready economy. Through our strategic acquisition of Zelo, we are proud to support a platform that solves one of the most fundamental barriers facing SMEs, access to timely working capital. This rebrand signals a confident new chapter, one that is fully aligned with IHC's long-term vision of building smart, scalable solutions and dynamic value networks that deliver real and lasting economic impact.' Dhanush Arjun, CEO of Zelo, noted: 'Zelo exists to eliminate the wait. The wait for payments, the wait for growth, the wait for opportunity. Our rebrand signals not just a new name, but a renewed commitment to SMEs in the UAE who deserve faster, smarter access to capital. With IHC's strategic backing, we're accelerating that future.' Zelo's platform is purpose-built for speed and simplicity, offering a fully digital onboarding experience, automated funding decisions, and near-instant access to capital, eliminating cash flow delays and accelerating reinvestment into growth. The platform also scales financing limits in line with business performance, creating a responsive and frictionless funding experience. Zelo's operations continue to be led by the co-founders of eFunder – Dhanush Arjun (CEO) and Deepak Sekar (COO), supported by a seasoned group of professionals with deep expertise in fintech, SME lending, and digital infrastructure. To date, the platform has facilitated over 9,000 transactions and deployed more than USD 200 million in funding, a testament to its impact and scalability within the region's SME ecosystem. About Zelo Zelo (formerly eFunder) is a private financing platform operating under ADGM FSRA regulations. The platform specializes in fast, flexible, and fully digital invoice financing and revenue-based financing for SMEs. Zelo has funded over 9,000 transactions and supported businesses with over USD 200 million in capital deployed, empowering growth across the UAE's most vital sectors. About IHC Established in 1999, IHC has become the most valuable holding company in the Middle East and one of the world's largest investment firms, with a market capitalization of AED 879.6 billion (USD 239.3 billion). Since then, it has transformed to represent a new generation of investors. IHC's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and economic diversification spans over 1,300 subsidiaries, driving growth across industries like Asset Management, Healthcare, Real Estate, Financial Services, IT, and more. IHC continually looks beyond the stand-alone value of its assets for opportunities, stepping outside of traditional approaches and artificial barriers to unlock opportunities across its portfolio, enabling sector-agnostic Dynamic Value Networks and creating results that are often much greater than the sum of their parts. At IHC, we take our responsibility to shareholders, customers, and employees seriously. Our commitment to responsible investment ensures that we create sustainable value by staying connected to the communities we serve, making a positive difference with every investment. Media Contacts Simon Hailes Managing Director, Head of Edelman Smithfield Middle East IHC@
