President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has officially launched the National Programme for Advanced Sciences and Technologies. This initiative is designed to create a cohesive national framework that bridges the gap between education, research and development, and the country’s strategic industrial sectors. By fostering an institutional ecosystem centered on innovation, the programme aims to bolster the UAE’s competitiveness and long-term national sovereignty in vital technological fields.
The programme serves as a cornerstone of the nation’s broader strategy to align its educational and research outputs with rapid global scientific advancements. It focuses on cultivating a specialized workforce of national talent, equipping them for future-oriented disciplines that enhance the industrial capabilities of the UAE. By connecting academic institutions and innovation centers directly to industrial priorities, the initiative seeks to develop technical solutions that are scalable and exportable, thereby elevating the nation’s global standing in science and technology.
To oversee this initiative, a Higher Committee has been established, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will serve as Deputy Chairman. The committee’s membership includes Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr. Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Mohammed Bin Mubarak Bin Fadel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defense Affairs; Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Bin Nawi Al Mazrouei, Head of the Office of the UAE President for Strategic Affairs; and Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs.
The Higher Committee is tasked with setting the strategic direction, priorities, and policies for the programme. It holds the authority to approve budgets in accordance with relevant legislation, issue necessary directives for implementation, and monitor progress against national objectives. The committee is also responsible for reporting outcomes and development recommendations to the UAE President and the Prime Minister to ensure the programme’s sustainability and performance.
In its initial phase, the programme will operate across six primary tracks: Technical Education and National Talent, National Service, Flagship Initiative, Global Challenge, Global Talent Attraction, and Technical Research and Innovation. These tracks may be expanded in the future based on the directives of the UAE President. An Executive Committee has also been formed to oversee these operations, chaired by Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi. This committee is responsible for reviewing and approving specific plans and policies before submitting them to the Higher Committee for final authorization, as well as managing budgets and tracking implementation across various state entities.
Furthermore, a dedicated office for the National Programme for Advanced Sciences and Technologies has been created to ensure operational consistency. This office will coordinate with track leaders to develop integrated plans, manage local and international partnerships, and provide the necessary administrative, technical, and logistical support required to maintain the programme’s momentum and performance standards.