February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a comprehensive liberal arts and research university on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, established in 2010 as one of three degree-granting portal campuses of New York University. It offers a full four-year undergraduate programme alongside graduate studies and postdoctoral research, drawing students and faculty from more than 120 countries. NYUAD operates as a partnership between NYU and the Abu Dhabi government, which provides the campus, funding, and operational support.

UAE Context

The founding of NYUAD was a landmark in the UAE’s higher-education internationalisation strategy. Its Saadiyat Island campus, designed by Rafael Vinoly, opened in 2014 and includes purpose-built research laboratories, a performing arts centre, and an arts gallery. The university maintains research institutes in areas such as public health, data science, cybersecurity, and ancient-world studies. NYUAD’s acceptance rate is among the most selective globally, and its graduates frequently continue to leading graduate programmes and multinational employers worldwide.

Key Data

NYUAD enrols approximately 2,000 undergraduate students, with an additional cohort of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Its faculty-to-student ratio is exceptionally low, supporting a tutorial-style educational model. The university has established multiple research centres, including the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, and the Center for Cyber Security. Research output has grown substantially since the campus opened, with hundreds of peer-reviewed publications each year.

Vision 2031 Significance

NYUAD demonstrates the UAE’s capacity to attract world-class educational institutions and international talent. It contributes to Abu Dhabi’s cultural-district ecosystem on Saadiyat Island, enriches the research and innovation landscape, and produces globally networked graduates who strengthen the UAE’s human-capital base.

  • Saadiyat Island — The cultural district hosting NYUAD’s purpose-built campus.
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi — Cultural institution on the same island reinforcing knowledge-economy goals.
  • Khalifa University — The UAE’s top-ranked domestic STEM research university.
  • Sorbonne Abu Dhabi — Another international branch campus on Al Reem Island.