The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced a new Board of Trustees, bringing in key figures from the global AI and semiconductor industries as well as Abu Dhabi's top investment entities. Among the most notable additions is AMD CEO Lisa Su, alongside Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala Investment Company, who will chair the board.

Strengthening AI and Investment Ties

The board expansion to nine members reflects a strategic shift towards deeper integration with Abu Dhabi's economic and technological ambitions. The new trustees include business, technology, and academic leaders, as well as individuals with strong ties to Abu Dhabi's executive and investment leadership.

Key members of the newly appointed board include:

● Lisa Su – CEO of AMD, a major player in the global semiconductor industry

● Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak – CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala Investment Company

● Peng Xiao – CEO of G42, a leading UAE-based AI company

● Eric Xing – Co-founder of MBZUAI and an expert in machine learning and computational biology

● Daniela Rus – Director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)

● Martin Edelman – Legal expert specializing in corporate mergers and acquisitions

● Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi – Chairman of the Department of Finance – Abu Dhabi

● Saif Saeed Ghobash – Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council

● Rima Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi – Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Unit of the Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) and Chairman of Tamkeen

Lisa Su's Strategic Role in AI and Semiconductor Expansion

Lisa Su's appointment marks a significant move for MBZUAI, bringing a global semiconductor powerhouse into Abu Dhabi's AI ecosystem. Under her leadership, AMD has transformed from an underdog into a key supplier of CPUs and AI processors for data centers.

Her presence on the board deepens MBZUAI's ties to the semiconductor and AI hardware sectors, potentially opening new markets for AMD's AI-focused Instinct MI GPUs. These processors, which compete with Nvidia's Hopper and Blackwell GPUs, have yet to gain significant market traction, and collaboration with Abu Dhabi's AI-driven initiatives could provide new growth opportunities.

Abu Dhabi's Multi-Billion AI Investment and MBZUAI's Role

The board restructuring aligns MBZUAI more closely with Abu Dhabi's long-term AI strategy. Recently, the emirate committed $3.54 billion to integrating AI into government systems, reinforcing its digital transformation goals.

Moreover, Abu Dhabi's $100 billion AI investment fund, MGX, shares four key board members with MBZUAI (Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Peng Xiao, Martin Edelman, and Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi), further solidifying the university's position within the region's AI ecosystem.

A Key Institution in Abu Dhabi's AI Vision

With the new board leadership and strategic partnerships, MBZUAI is set to play a pivotal role in shaping Abu Dhabi's AI-driven economic future. The university's strengthened ties to global technology leaders, major AI firms, and government-backed investment initiatives position it as a key player in advancing AI education, research, and industrial applications worldwide.