Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people study, work and conduct business, making digital knowledge an increasingly valuable skill across industries. As demand for AI-related capabilities grows, the UAE is expanding access to learning opportunities designed to help students, jobseekers and working professionals understand and use emerging technologies.
Several initiatives introduced across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, alongside international technology partnerships, are providing free training, access to AI-powered tools and opportunities to earn digital credentials.
Here are four opportunities people in the UAE can explore to strengthen their AI knowledge and prepare for changing career requirements.
Dubai’s One Million Prompters Initiative
Launched by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the One Million Prompters initiative aims to equip one million people with AI and prompt engineering skills over three years.
Participants learn how to write effective prompts, generate more useful responses from AI tools and apply these techniques to professional tasks. The programme also explores how AI can support activities in fields such as marketing, data analysis, design and content creation.
The course is available online and takes approximately four hours to complete. Participants who successfully complete the programme can obtain an AI prompt literacy certification.
Google AI Plus Offers Free Access to UAE University Students
University students in the UAE can benefit from a separate initiative offering 12 months of complimentary access to Google’s AI Plus subscription.
Announced through a collaboration between the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Google, the initiative aims to introduce students to advanced AI tools that can support their academic work, research and creative activities.
The subscription provides access to Google’s Gemini application and additional features designed to make studying and information management easier. Students can use AI-powered tools to organise research materials, summarise academic references, explore complex subjects and prepare study notes.
The offer is available to registered university students in the UAE aged 18 and above. Eligible students must complete registration by December 31, 2026, to receive the complimentary one year access.
Abu Dhabi Introduces AiNative Training Programme
Abu Dhabi has introduced AiNative, an artificial intelligence training initiative developed by the Department of Government Enablement in collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
One of its primary objectives is to train 20,000 government employees by the end of 2026.
The public learning programme is intended for UAE citizens and residents. Its content will focus on practical applications, including managing personal finances, operating small businesses, searching for employment, studying and creating online content responsibly.
Public participants will be able to access the programme through the Tomouh learning application using UAE Pass. Training will be delivered through the free version of ChatGPT.
The initiative is being introduced in phases, with the initial government pilot already under way. Public access is expected to follow, although a confirmed registration date has not yet been announced.
IBM SkillsBuild Provides More Than 1,000 Free Courses
Students and professionals interested in developing broader technology skills can also explore IBM SkillsBuild, a free digital learning platform supported by a partnership between IBM and the UAE Cyber Security Council.
The initiative provides learning opportunities across more than 1,000 courses covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, project management and workplace skills.
Its AI-related learning resources introduce participants to subjects such as generative AI, prompt writing, machine learning and AI ethics. Learners can also explore cybersecurity concepts and other digital capabilities relevant to modern workplaces.
Participants can access learning materials and work towards industry recognised digital credentials. The partnership also plans to introduce practical learning experiences, including hackathons and industry related challenges, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real world problems.
Developing Skills for Tomorrow’s Workplace
The growing availability of free AI learning opportunities reflects the UAE’s wider efforts to strengthen digital knowledge and prepare its population for technological change.
For students, understanding AI can support academic research, information management and creative projects. For jobseekers and working professionals, learning how to use these tools effectively can strengthen existing skills and improve workplace productivity.
However, developing AI literacy involves more than simply learning to operate new applications. Understanding accuracy, responsible usage, data privacy and the limitations of AI-generated information is equally important.
With initiatives offering free training, practical learning resources and access to advanced technology, individuals across the UAE have several opportunities to begin building skills that will remain relevant as the digital economy evolves.
