UAE’s Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei Appointed to Kazakhstan’s Presidential AI Council in Recognition of Global Leadership in Artificial Intelligence
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei, Chairperson of the United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative and a leading Emirati expert in artificial intelligence, has been selected to join the Artificial Intelligence Council of Kazakhstan, chaired by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in recognition of her distinguished global contributions to the advancement of AI.
The Council comprises 16 of the world’s foremost leaders in artificial intelligence, representing a diverse spectrum of expertise in AI policy, research, and innovation.
Dr. Almazrouei’s appointment underscores her status as a global trailblazer in AI innovation and governance, highlighting the exceptional calibre of Emirati talent at the forefront of shaping the global AI landscape.
As a member of the Council, Dr. Almazrouei will play a key role in formulating forward-looking AI strategies and policies, collaborating with internationally renowned figures including John Hopcroft, Turing Award laureate and leading theoretical computer scientist; Peter Norvig, former Director of Research at Google and Fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centred AI; Kai-Fu Lee, Founder and CEO of Sinovation Ventures and 01.AI; Joichi Ito, President of the Chiba Institute of Technology; Laura Tyson, Distinguished Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley; and Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.
Earlier this year, Dr. Almazrouei was recognized among H2O.ai’s Top 100 Global AI Leaders for her exceptional contributions to ethical and impactful AI innovation across sectors. She has also been honored with the Women in Tech®️ MENA Award and named among the 2025 UAE Women Pioneers for her leadership in advancing AI for social and economic progress.
Currently serving as Executive Director of the Office of AI & Advanced Technology (OAIAT) at the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance, Dr. Almazrouei is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in AI governance and innovation.
She chairs the UN AI for Good Impact Initiative, sits on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Sharjah (AUS), and is a member of the Council for Artificial Intelligence Development of Kazakhstan.
Previously, as Executive Director and Chief AI Researcher at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), she founded the AI Cross-Center Unit (AICCU) and led the development of groundbreaking AI models, including the Falcon series of open-source generative AI models (7B, 40B, and 180B) and NOOR, the first and largest Arabic large-language model.
Her groundbreaking work continues to position the UAE as a global leader in AI-driven sustainable development and international technological collaboration, reflecting the nation’s vision of harnessing innovation to shape a smarter, more inclusive future.
