The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in the United Arab Emirates is advancing its position as a leading AI hub by launching the Institute of Foundation Models (IFM), a global initiative with locations in Abu Dhabi, Paris, and Silicon Valley. This development aims to build a strong engineering pipeline, support homegrown startups, and accelerate AI innovation in the region. MBZUAI’s efforts reflect the UAE’s strategic national development to become a major center for artificial intelligence, drawing comparisons to Stanford University for its ambition and scale. The partnership with Cerebras Systems highlights the university's commitment to cutting-edge AI research and infrastructure. UAE leadership, including Mohamed bin Zayed, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Peng Xiao, has been credited with driving this transformation, positioning the country as a key player in the global AI landscape outside of Silicon Valley.