Research takes time and careful reading, so any tool that helps scholars work smoothly is welcome news. Dubai will host the fourth cohort of the Arab AI Researchers initiative on 5 to 7 November 2026, offering practical training on how to use AI agents to support research. It is organised by the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF), with the University of Dubai and the Arab AI Index in Universities (AIU).
What Is the Arab AI Researchers Initiative?
The Arab AI Researchers initiative, known as AAIR, aims to strengthen the skills of Arab researchers and academics in using Agentic AI and in building intelligent research systems. These systems are meant to support scientific productivity and international academic publishing.
The fourth edition brings together four universities:
- University of Dubai
- University of Khorfakkan
- Badr University in Cairo
- Al Qasimia University
The Theme: From Generative AI to Academic Agents
This year’s theme is “Arab AI Researchers: From Generative AI to Intelligent Academic Agents in Academic Research.” In simple terms, the programme moves from using a single AI tool on its own to building intelligent agents that can handle connected research tasks. They work under human supervision and follow academic integrity and governance standards.
The programme offers 15 hours of hands-on training over three days, introducing participants to more than 15 AI tools and applications.
Three Practical Modules
The training is built around three hands-on modules.
- Module 1: Developing an AI agent to support research and publishing in journals indexed in Scopus. Training covers searching academic literature, analysing references and earlier studies, finding suitable journals, reviewing publication requirements, and helping prepare manuscripts to academic standards.
- Module 2: Developing an AI agent for journals indexed in Web of Science. It will help researchers study publishing trends, find appropriate journals, review manuscript requirements, improve paper quality, and check alignment with journal guidelines, editorial policies, and research ethics.
- Module 3: Building an Academic Multi-Agent Research Team, where each agent has a specific job. Responsibilities include literature reviews, studying earlier research, processing quantitative and qualitative data, managing surveys, supporting interview design and analysing interview findings.
A Message From the Organisers
Dr Mohamed Abdulzaher, CEO of the AIJRF, said the fourth edition is a significant step forward, with a full focus on developing AI agents and on Agentic AI as an intelligent research assistant. He explained that participants will learn to build agents that support publishing in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, and teams of agents that handle literature reviews, surveys, interviews, and data analysis. This gives researchers more room for critical thinking and innovation.
Dr Abdulzaher also stressed that Agentic AI will not replace researchers’ creativity or scientific contributions. Instead, it will reshape the skills researchers need. He said the ability to design, manage and evaluate academic AI agents, and to verify their outputs, will become an essential skill for researchers and university faculty.
Humans Stay Responsible
A thoughtful part of the programme is its emphasis on responsibility. The approach is expected to improve research efficiency and cut the time spent on repetitive tasks, while humans keep full responsibility for the accuracy of findings, the reliability of sources, and academic decisions.
Who Can Join
The programme is aimed at:
- University faculty members
- Researchers and postgraduate students
- Professionals working in research and innovation centres
- Specialists in applying AI in higher education
Participants are expected to complete practical projects involving specialised academic AI agents tailored to their disciplines. Those who meet the programme requirements will receive a certificate of training completion under the initiative’s approved guidelines.
The Bigger Picture
The Arab AI Researchers initiative aims to build an Arab research community that can benefit from global advances in AI. It also seeks to encourage joint projects between universities, support Arabic-language scientific knowledge, and strengthen Arab researchers’ international publishing presence.
Why This Programme Deserves Appreciation
The Arab AI Researchers programme deserves appreciation for several reasons:
- It gives researchers practical, hands-on skills, not only theory
- It keeps people in charge, with human supervision and responsibility
- It links universities across different countries
- It protects academic integrity while introducing new tools
Conclusion
The fourth cohort of Arab AI Researchers is a thoughtful, practical offering for scholars who want to use AI well. By combining hands-on modules, human oversight and cooperation between universities, it supports a research community that can grow in confidence and share its work more widely.
If your organisation wants guidance on using AI agents responsibly in research or daily work, Horizontal8 is here to help. Reach out to Horizontal8 today, and let’s talk about your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the fourth cohort take place?Â
It is scheduled for 5 to 7 November 2026, with Dubai hosting the initiative.
Who organises it?Â
The AIJRF organises it in collaboration with the University of Dubai and the Arab AI Index in Universities.
How much training is included?Â
There are 15 hands-on hours over three days, covering more than 15 AI tools and applications.
Who is it for?Â
It is for faculty members, researchers, postgraduate students, research and innovation professionals and AI-in-education specialists.
What will participants receive?Â
Participants who fulfil the requirements receive a certificate of training completion.