Abu dhabi: The UAE's National Experts Programme- AI track (NEP-AI) has shortlisted 135 finalists from more than 1,000 applicants, as the country accelerates efforts to build a national base of artificial intelligence expertise across priority sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, a final group of 25 participants will be selected from these finalists to join the inaugural NEP-AI cohort. The finalists represent all seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi accounting for 80 and Dubai for 21, followed by Sharjah with 14, Ras Al Khaimah with 9, Ajman with 6, Umm Al Quwain with 3, and Fujairah with 2.
The finalist pool is the most diverse in the programme's history, bringing together professionals from government, industry, and specialised technical fields. The gender split stands at 52 women, making up 38 percent, and 83 men, comprising 62 percent.
The selection also reflects a highly experienced pool with 44 percent of finalists having more than 10 years of experience, and 35 percent between 5 and 10 years, indicating a focus on professionals equipped to deploy AI at scale. Academic profiles are equally strong, with 53 percent holding a Master's degree and 24 percent a PhD/Doctorate, reflecting the growing depth of advanced technical expertise among Emirati professionals.
The majority of finalists are drawn from the public sector, with 98 finalists, and 37 from the private sector, aligning with the UAE's strategy of embedding AI capabilities within government systems while maintaining cross-sector integration. Several of the shortlisted candidates have proposed sector-specific, implementation-driven ideas, which are expected to form the basis of capstone projects developed from the start of the programme.
The scale and quality of the applicant pool underscore the growing pull of the National Experts Programme as a platform for developing high-impact national talent in advanced technologies. The inaugural NEP-AI cohort is expected to be announced in June 2026.