MBZUAI appoints Professor Fakhreddine Karray as the new Provost

We are excited to announce that Professor Fakhreddine (Fakhri) Karray from University of Waterloo will be joining the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence as Provost. He will be taking the reins from former provost Professor Ling Shao who intends to return to the faculty and resume a focus on research and teaching.

Professor Karray will work closely with Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, to develop the university’s academic and research strategy and drive the implementation of plans towards accomplishing its mission and vision to become a hub of AI innovation and training of UAE.

Professor Karray joins MBZUAI from the University of Waterloo in Canada, where he most recently served as the founding co-director of the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute. He is also the Founding co-director of the Centre for Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Additionally, he has held the Loblaws Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence.

“I am thrilled to welcome Professor Karray to MBZUAI. His remarkable experience and expertise in AI will strengthen our research and teaching capabilities and raise the university’s profile. From the beginning, our objective was to bring the best AI talent to Abu Dhabi and this appointment aligns with that goal. I am confident with Professor Karray’s joining, we will enter a new chapter of the university’s rise to excellence” Xing said.

Professor Karray is a globally recognised researcher with interests in operational artificial intelligence, cognitive machines, natural human-machine interaction, autonomous and intelligent systems. Applications of Professor Karray’s research include cognitive and self-aware machines, robots, vehicles, predictive analytics in supply chain management and intelligent transportation systems.

He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and a Fellow of the IEEE. He has also previously been an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer.

Professor Karray commented, “It is a privilege to join MBZUAI at a time when AI is playing an increasingly critical role in driving economic and social development in the UAE and elsewhere. I look forward to working with the rest of the faculty to further drive the mission of MBZUAI in advancing AI research and studies.”

We look forward to Professor Karray’s impact on shaping the research and academics as MBZUAI strives to build its intellectual horsepower and welcomes its second cohort of graduate students.

At the same time, we would like to thank Professor Ling Shao, our former Provost, for his contribution to the establishment of MBZUAI. Prof Ling’s commitment to AI research and academia kept us on target and attracted the talented faculty, students, and research staff that form the backbone of our institution.