Law No. (25) of 2019 Concerning the Establishment of Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence

Article 1 — In the implementation of the provisions of this Law, the following words and ¶

phrases shall have the meanings corresponding thereto unless the context
requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates
Emirate: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Executive Council: The Executive Council of the Emirate
University: Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence
Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees of the University
Chairman: The Chairman of the University.

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Article 2 — A university shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Law under ¶

the name of “Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence”. The
University shall have an independent corporate personality, enjoy full legal
capacity to act, and be affiliated to the Executive Council.

Article 3 — The main office of the University shall be located in Abu Dhabi City. Branches of ¶

the University may be established inside or outside the Emirate by a resolution
of the Board of Trustees following the approval of the Executive Council.

Article 4 — The University shall aim at supporting the journey of scientific research and ¶

development as well as the knowledge creation and the transfer and use of
Artificial Intelligence, and shall in particular assume the following:
1. Establish an academic and research system that is distinguished in the
various fields of computer sciences and their applications in Artificial
Intelligence.
2. Build and develop academic, scientific and research partnerships with
scientific and academic institutions inside and outside the Emirate;
exchange expertise in order to guarantee a sustainable scientific and
academic development, by concluding the necessary agreements and
memoranda of understanding.
3. Prepare and finance researches and reports related to Artificial Intelligence.
4. Provide advice and consulting in the University’s field of work and
specialties to any entity including local or international entities.
5. Issue publications including researches, studies and specialised research
papers.
6. Hold and participate in local, regional and international conferences,
seminars, meetings and workshops.
7. Implement the strategies related to commercial and intellectual property
activities resulting from the University’s researches and the University’s
cooperation with others.
8. Any other competencies assigned thereto by the Executive Council.

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Article 5 — • The University shall have a Board of Trustees consisting of at least five ¶

members including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Vice-
Chairman, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Executive Council.
• The term of the Board of Trustees membership shall three renewable years.
• The Board of Trustees shall issue its internal regulations containing
the procedures related to holding its meetings, the legal quorum for its
meeting, voting on its resolutions and the manner of taking its resolutions
by circulation in cases of necessity.

Article 6 — • The Board of Trustees shall assume the following competencies: ¶

1. Approve the public policy and strategic plans of the University in
accordance with the policy of the Emirate and State, and follow up on
their implementation.
2. Approve the University’s plans, specialties and programmes and review
and assess the extent of their application on an annual basis.
3. Approve the annual draft budget of the University and submit it to the
Executive Council for approval.
4. Approve the organisational structure of the University and submit it for
approval in accordance with the approved regulations.
5. Form standing or temporary committees from among the members and
others, to assume particular tasks or competencies determined by the
Board of Trustees.
6. Issue the rules and regulations required for the management of the
various activities and operations of the University.
7. Issue the internal regulations of the University including the financial,
administrative and Human Resources regulations following the approval
of the Executive Council.
8. Approve the admission policies as well as the studies, training and
exams systems and graduation requirements.
9. Grant academic degrees and diplomas in accordance with the regulations
and instructions issued by it to this effect.

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10. Approve the memoranda of understanding, agreements and the
academic, scientific and research partnerships concluded by the
University inside or outside the Emirate, and that within the limits of
the budget approved for the University and in accordance with the
applicable legislations.
11. Approve the scientific research policies and any of the University’s
commercial strategies and activities related thereto.
12. Establish endowment funds to achieve the University’s goals and
objectives in coordination with the relevant entities.
13. Establish or contribute in companies related to the University’s
specialties.
14. Approve the ownership, rent and lease of real estates for the activities of
the University, its branches, companies and scientific research centres.
15. Approve the University fees as well as the financial rewards of the
students following the approval of the Executive Council.
16. Review the periodic reports on the University’s performance.
17. Borrow in accordance with the applicable legislations.
18. Appoint consultants and experts and determine their remuneration.
19. Any other competencies or tasks assigned thereto by the Executive
Council.
• - The Board of Trustees may delegate some of its competencies to the
Chairman provided that the delegation is made in writing.

Article 7 — • The University shall have a Chairman to be appointed by the Chairman ¶

of the Executive Council based on the recommendation of the Board of
Trustees. He shall be in charge of the daily conduct of the University’s
functions, and shall assume the following competencies:
1. Manage the scientific, financial and administrative affairs of the
University in accordance with the provisions of this Law, as well as
regulations and resolutions issued by the Board of Trustees.
2. Issue the necessary resolutions to guarantee the good conduct of the
functions of the University in accordance with the applicable legislations.
3. Propose draft internal regulations of the University and submit them to
the Board of Trustees.

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4. Prepare the organisational structure of the University and submit it to
the Board of Trustees.
5. Prepare the draft annual budget of the University and submit it to the
Board of Trustees.
6. Prepare academic and administrative programmes and plans that
contribute in achieving the University’s objectives, submit them to the
Board of Trustees and follow up on their implementation.
7. Appoint and terminate the service of the University’s employees in
accordance with the University’s internal regulations.
8. Represent the University before Courts and third parties.
9. Prepare periodic reports on the University’s performance and submit
them to the Board of Trustees.
10. Any other tasks assigned thereto by the Board of Trustees.
• The Chairman may delegate some of his competencies to any of the
University’s employees, provided that the delegation is made in writing.

Article 8 — The University’s financial resources consist of the following: ¶

1. The annual appropriations reserved thereto by the Government of Abu
Dhabi.
2. The University’s fees and any other fees collected by the University in
return of the services provided thereby.
3. Returns on the investments of its movables and immovables.
4. Donations, subsidies, grants and any other revenues that are consistent
with the University’s objectives and approved by the Board of Trustees.
5. The financial support provided by the public sector or the private
sector companies and institutions as well as individuals and institutions
financing scientific research, reserved for funding particular researches
or activities and disbursed as per the allocated purposes outside the
scope of the budget approved for the University.
6. Any other revenues approved by the Executive Council.

Article 9 — The fiscal year of the University shall start on the first of January and end on ¶

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the last day of December of each year, except for the first fiscal year which
shall start from the effective date of this Law and end on the last day of
December of the following year.

Article 10 — The University shall have one or more external certified auditors to verify its ¶

financial accounts and statements. They shall be appointed by a resolution of
the Board of Trustees that also determines their remuneration, in accordance
with the legislations applicable in the Emirate.

Article 11 — • The Human Recourses rules and policies issued by the Board of Trustees ¶

shall apply to the University’s employees.
• The Nationals among them shall be subject to the civil retirement pensions
and benefits applicable in the Emirate.

Article 13 — This Law shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published in the ¶

Official Gazette.
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 8 September 2019
Corresponding to: 9 Muharram 1441 Hijri
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi

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