Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai has launched NEXORA, a next-generation artificial intelligence lab designed to help students move beyond classroom theory and develop practical AI skills for industry.
The new facility comes as the UAE’s AI market continues its rapid expansion. Industry estimates project the market will reach nearly $3.47 billion and grow at an annual rate of around 44% through 2030.
Located at the Dubai campus, the AI lab includes dedicated zones for ideation, learning, development, and live demonstrations. Students can design, test, and deploy AI applications using real-world datasets and business challenges.
The university said the lab aims to close the widening gap between students who study AI concepts and graduates who can apply AI in practical business environments.
Student-led AI projects showcase practical innovation
During the launch, students demonstrated several industry-focused AI solutions developed entirely on campus.
The projects included interactive virtual avatars for visitor engagement, real-time facial recognition systems operating on edge devices, intelligent retail inventory tools, sentiment analysis kiosks, and voice-based biometric authentication systems.
Students also presented interactive AI learning platforms designed for educational use cases.
Importantly, many of the solutions focused on privacy-first AI deployment. For example, the facial recognition system processed data directly on edge devices instead of relying on external cloud processing.
High-performance infrastructure powers AI development
NEXORA features high-performance computing systems that support large-scale AI model training and experimentation.
Additionally, the lab includes edge AI platforms for real-time processing and cloud-integrated environments for scalable development. The university has also embedded industry-standard AI frameworks into the facility to align student training with enterprise technology environments.
The institution confirmed that the next phase of development will include a dedicated quantum computing terminal. This expansion will allow students to explore the convergence of quantum technologies and artificial intelligence.
AI education expands beyond engineering disciplines
Unlike conventional AI labs focused only on computer science or engineering, NEXORA supports multiple academic disciplines.
Students from management, health sciences, media, biotechnology, psychology, and design programmes can also access the facility. The university believes AI capabilities are becoming essential across nearly every industry sector.
As a result, the lab aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and practical experimentation across departments.
UAE accelerates nationwide AI education strategy
The launch also reflects the UAE’s broader push to position artificial intelligence at the centre of economic and educational development.
From the 2025–2026 academic year, the UAE introduced AI education across government schools from kindergarten through Grade 12. The initiative makes the country one of the few globally to implement AI learning at a national scale.
The UAE Ministry of Education oversees a dedicated curriculum that combines technical AI training with ethics and responsible use.
Meanwhile, universities and colleges across the UAE continue to expand AI-focused programmes, research centres, and innovation labs to meet growing employer demand for AI talent.
Manipal Dubai strengthens regional academic presence
Manipal Academy Dubai currently serves more than 3,100 students representing over 50 nationalities.
The institution offers more than 50 programmes across engineering, information technology, business, life sciences, biotechnology, media, psychology, and design.
The university operates under licensing from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. It also holds accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation and maintains a five-star rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
