In a significant move to accelerate AI adoption and talent development, the UAE Government has announced a strategic collaboration with Google to provide university students across the nation with a complimentary one-year subscription to the Pro plan of Google Gemini. This initiative aims to empower the next generation with advanced generative AI tools for learning, research, and innovation.
Bolstering The National AI Strategy
This partnership is a key component of the UAE’s National AI Strategy, which focuses on building a world-class talent ecosystem in artificial intelligence. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasized that the UAE prioritises advancing national talents by providing them with the necessary AI tools to enhance skills, build capabilities, and drive innovation across all sectors. He stated that the government is fostering an environment of continuous learning through strategic global partnerships to solidify the UAE’s role as a global leader in harnessing technology for human development.
Meeting Rising Demand For AI In Education
The collaboration comes at a time of surging interest in AI within the education sector. According to Anthony Nakache, Google’s Managing Director in the Middle East & North Africa, Google Trends data shows a 110 percent increase in searches for AI and study-related topics in the UAE over the past two months compared to the same period last year. This indicates a strong appetite among both educators and students to integrate modern technologies into the learning process to foster creativity and efficiency.
Unlocking Advanced AI Capabilities
The complimentary subscription gives students access to a powerful suite of features within the Gemini Pro plan. The package includes Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most capable model for handling complex tasks like in-depth research analysis and brainstorming. Students can also leverage Deep Research to generate initial reports with information from hundreds of web sources, use NotebookLM as an organizational tool for their thoughts, and create short videos from text prompts with Veo 3. The plan is rounded out with 2TB of cloud storage across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail, providing ample space for academic projects and materials.
How To Register
University students over the age of 18 can now register for their 12-month complimentary access to Gemini 2.5 Pro. Registration is open until 9th December 2025, and students can sign up using their personal email address via the official Gemini for Students portal.
About The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence
The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 is a comprehensive plan aimed at positioning the UAE as a global leader in AI by 2031. It focuses on developing an integrated system that employs AI in vital areas such as education, government services, and transport to create a new market that contributes to the country’s economy. The strategy seeks to enhance government performance, accelerate transactions, and build a new generation of highly skilled talent to support AI initiatives.
Source: Zawya
