AI Institutes in the Middle East
A directory of 35 artificial intelligence universities, research institutes, government AI bodies and training providers across the Middle East (West Asia), from Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to Iraq, the Levant, Egypt and Turkey: what each one offers, who it's for, and how to join.
AI institutes in Qatar
Research institute
Qatar Computing Research Institute
Doha (Education City) · since 2010
Qatar's national computing research institute, part of HBKU. Home of the Qatar Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Arabic AI model Fanar.
University
Hamad Bin Khalifa University
Doha (Education City)
Qatar Foundation's research university. Its College of Science and Engineering offers an MS in Data Science and Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science.
University
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
Doha (Education City)
Carnegie Mellon's Doha campus offers Qatar's first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, based on CMU's top-ranked US programme.
University
Northwestern University in Qatar: AI² Initiative
Doha (Education City) · since 2024
Northwestern Qatar's AI² initiative covers AI research, education and professional training, focused on media, misinformation and AI's social impact.
University
Qatar University: KINDI Center for Computing Research
Doha
Qatar University's KINDI center runs research, workshops and industry training in AI and cybersecurity, including Arabic fake-news detection.
Training provider
Aptech Qatar
Doha · since 1994
A long-running IT training centre in Doha offering career courses with an AI and machine learning specialisation, plus Python, data and cloud training.
Training provider
Qatar AI Institute
Doha (online)
Online AI and machine learning courses for learners in Qatar and the region, from AI for Everyone to NLP, computer vision and robotics.
AI institutes in United Arab Emirates
University
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
Abu Dhabi (Masdar City) · since 2020
The world's first university dedicated entirely to AI, with master's and PhD degrees in machine learning, vision, NLP and robotics, plus a BSc in AI.
Research institute
Technology Innovation Institute
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's applied research institute and creator of the open-source Falcon language models, including Falcon Arabic, via its AI research centre.
University
Khalifa University: Robotics and AI
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's science and engineering university, home of the KUCARS robotics centre and a BSc in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
Government AI body
UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and National Programme for AI
Federal (nationwide) · since 2017
The UAE named the world's first Minister of State for AI in 2017. Its AI Office runs national programmes such as the UAE AI Camp for students.
Government AI body
Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence
Dubai · since 2023
Launched in 2023 under the Dubai Future Foundation to train government staff in generative AI and run accelerator programmes for AI startups.
Training provider
Edoxi Training Institute
Dubai (also Doha and London) · since 2018
A Dubai-based professional training company with centres in Doha and London, offering short AI courses in generative AI, prompt engineering and ML.
AI institutes in Saudi Arabia
Government AI body
Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and SDAIA Academy
Riyadh · since 2019
Saudi Arabia's national data and AI authority. Its SDAIA Academy runs free AI and data bootcamps with accredited certificates for ages 18 to 60.
University
KAUST: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Thuwal
Saudi Arabia's graduate research university, with a Center of Excellence for Generative AI and a KAUST Academy that trains students in AI.
Research institute
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's national science agency and labs, running AI and robotics research and hands-on training programmes for university students.
University
KFUPM: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Intelligent Secure Systems
Dhahran
A King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals research centre working where AI and cybersecurity meet, including post-quantum security.
Training provider
Tuwaiq Academy
Riyadh · since 2019
Riyadh's large tech training academy, running AI bootcamps with global partners and a Data Science and AI diploma with Meta.
AI institutes in Bahrain
AI institutes in Kuwait
AI institutes in Oman
AI institutes in Iraq
University
University of Technology (Iraq): College of Artificial Intelligence Engineering
Baghdad · since 2025
Iraq's College of AI Engineering at Baghdad's University of Technology, opened in 2025 with departments in intelligent robotics, control and cognitive systems.
University
University of Baghdad: College of Artificial Intelligence
Baghdad · since 2025
Iraq's oldest major university opened a College of AI in 2025, focused on AI for engineering, biomedical applications and big data.
AI institutes in Jordan
University
Princess Sumaya University for Technology
Amman · since 1991
Jordan's technology university, owned by the Royal Scientific Society, with Jordan's first data science department and a BSc in Data Science and AI.
University
The University of Jordan: Artificial Intelligence
Amman
Jordan's largest university offers a four-year BSc in Artificial Intelligence and an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
AI institutes in Lebanon
AI institutes in Palestine
University
An-Najah National University: MSc in Artificial Intelligence
Nablus
One of Palestine's largest universities, offering a two-year MSc in Artificial Intelligence through its Faculty of Graduate Studies.
University
Arab American University (Palestine): Artificial Intelligence
Jenin and Ramallah · since 2000
Palestine's first private university offers an English-taught Master in Artificial Intelligence at its Jenin and Ramallah campuses.
AI institutes in Egypt
Training provider
Information Technology Institute (ITI)
Cairo (and branches nationwide) · since 1993
Egypt's government IT training institute. Its free nine-month scholarship programme has 30+ tracks, including AI and machine learning.
Government AI body
Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative (DEPI)
Nationwide
A fully funded Egyptian government programme training students and graduates in AI and data science, cloud, cybersecurity and more.
Government AI body
Applied Innovation Center (AIC)
Cairo · since 2020
Egypt's government AI centre, set up in 2020 to deliver the national AI strategy, known for Arabic speech and Egyptian-dialect NLP systems.
University
Cairo University: Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence
Giza
One of North Africa's best-known computing faculties, formerly the Faculty of Computers and Information, with degrees in computing and AI.
University
Kafrelsheikh University: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence
Kafr El Sheikh · since 2019
Egypt's first faculty dedicated to artificial intelligence, opened in 2019 with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in Dubai.
AI institutes in Turkey
Research institute
TÜBİTAK BİLGEM Artificial Intelligence Institute
Türkiye · since 2020
Turkey's national AI research institute, set up in 2020 inside TÜBİTAK BİLGEM to turn AI research into products with industry partners.
University
Koç University & İş Bank AI Center (KUIS AI)
Istanbul · since 2020
An Istanbul AI research centre founded in 2020 by Koç University and İş Bank, covering NLP, computer vision, robotics and more.
Compiled by Qatar AI Institute from each organisation's own website and public news sources, last checked 29 September 2026. Programmes and intakes change often, so confirm details with the institute before applying. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.