MBZUAI receives $1M Google.org grant to develop AI for Arabic and MENA languages

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has secured a $1 million grant from Google.org to develop AI models specifically for Arabic and other MENA languages. The initiative addresses a critical gap: current AI systems lose cultural nuance and precision when applied to regional dialects, shifting from adapting Western-centric models to building linguistically native frameworks. According to MBZUAI's press release, the funding will support research led by Dr Thamar Solorio, Vice Provost of Faculty Excellence and Professor of Natural Language Processing.

Addressing the AI data divide

The research initiative tackles what experts call the 'data divide' - the heavy skew towards English and Western languages in AI training data. When applied to the complex linguistic structures of the Middle East and North Africa, where a single sentiment can be expressed in multiple ways across different dialects, these models often fail to capture cultural nuance.

'This funding allows us to take our research from an early exploratory phase to a level that can not only redefine the field, but lead to impact in people's lives,' said Professor Solorio. 'This support is vital because it allows us to move beyond adaptation of high-resource models to linguistically grounded AI for MENA languages, which highlights a much-needed paradigm shift in the field.'

The approach builds on growing recognition that AI systems need regional expertise. UAE telecom operators have already begun deploying Arabic-specific AI tools, whilst local businesses face skills gaps in implementing AI technologies effectively.

Resource-lean AI development

A central focus of the initiative is developing 'resource-lean' AI models that require less manually annotated data and lower computational power. This approach aims to democratise AI innovation by allowing local institutions, startups, and researchers to develop sophisticated tools without extensive capital or infrastructure requirements.

'We are happy to collaborate with MBZUAI, which is deeply rooted in advancing AI research and fostering regional academic talent,' said Yossi Matias, Vice President of Google and Head of Google Research. 'By focusing on low-resource languages in Large Language Models, we are progressing on the MENA AI Opportunity Initiative's commitment to providing access to the most innovative AI technology in Arabic, its dialects and other languages spoken in the region.'

This builds on broader UAE AI initiatives that aim to provide free access to advanced AI tools and training programmes across the Emirates.

Training the next generation

Beyond technical development, the funding will support postdoctoral and early-career researchers, reinforcing MBZUAI's role in developing regional AI talent. The initiative anticipates real-world applications in education, cultural preservation, and digital communication.

By lowering barriers to AI development, the project aims to ensure communities across MENA have access to speech and language technologies tailored to their specific needs. This addresses broader concerns about linguistic communities being left behind as AI systems become more prevalent in daily life.

Funding details

Google.org has provided $1 million USD (approximately Dhs 3.7 million) to fund the research initiative at MBZUAI's Abu Dhabi campus. The grant supports Dr Thamar Solorio's team in developing new training frameworks and supporting early-career researchers in the field of natural language processing for MENA languages.

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