Samsung Gulf Electronics has begun its 2026 Innovation Campus programme in the UAE, offering young Emiratis structured training in artificial intelligence through a partnership with the government's Artificial Intelligence Office.The programme, which opened on 19 October, introduces generative artificial intelligence alongside established courses in programming, statistics, machine learning and deep learning. Samsung's published schedule provides for 400 hours of online instruction and independent study, continuing until 23 January 2027.
The organisers have described a selection process for UAE nationals aged 18 to 29, involving technical prerequisites and admissions assessments. Although the programme has been described as welcoming 250 shortlisted candidates, the publicly available official programme information does not specify a confirmed final enrolment figure. Shortlisting and admission are separate stages of the process.
The 2026 intake is the first UAE edition restricted exclusively to Emirati nationals. Earlier programmes admitted a wider range of participants, while the latest arrangement concentrates the company's training resources on developing domestic expertise in artificial intelligence.
Applications were accepted from 28 September until 16 October. Prospective participants were required to have completed secondary-level courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, together with foundational knowledge of statistics and object-oriented programming. Familiarity with Java, JavaScript or C++ and previous coding experience formed part of the eligibility criteria.
Candidates were also required to complete a coding assessment before admission and a course pre-test after acceptance. These requirements distinguish the programme from introductory digital-literacy courses, reflecting its emphasis on technical study rather than general awareness of artificial intelligence tools.
The curriculum includes Python programming and associated libraries, probability, statistics and the mathematical foundations of machine learning. Students progress towards deep-learning applications and generative AI, with exercises intended to connect theoretical instruction to practical problem-solving.
Samsung says the free course uses live interactive online sessions, instructor guidance and self-paced learning. Participants can study remotely while completing exercises and projects designed to demonstrate their understanding of AI methods and their potential applications.
The programme's practical component includes designing projects, implementing models and communicating results. Students are expected to learn how to apply machine-learning techniques to datasets and assess the relevance of different tools to specific problems, rather than relying exclusively on ready-made applications.
Successful participants can receive a Samsung Innovation Campus certificate after satisfying the course requirements. The company presents the qualification as evidence of completion of its training programme, rather than as an academic degree or a guarantee of employment.
Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office, said when registration opened that investment in national talent was central to the country's approach to AI. He emphasised the importance of combining advanced knowledge with practical experience to help young people develop solutions addressing economic and development priorities.
He also identified cooperation with international technology companies as a means of aligning training with the skills demanded by emerging sectors. Such partnerships, he said, could provide participants with the expertise and resources needed to test ideas and translate them into applications.
Jerome Hong, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, said the addition of generative AI reflected the growing importance of those capabilities. He linked the initiative to the company's commitment to helping young UAE nationals participate in technological development.
The initiative operates within the UAE’s wider effort to develop specialist technology skills, although the organisers have not published employment outcomes or independent assessments for the incoming 2026 cohort. The programme forms part of Samsung's global corporate citizenship activities. Its UAE operation began in 2022 in cooperation with the Artificial Intelligence Office and has previously provided instruction in artificial intelligence, Python, data science, machine learning and deep learning.
More than 400 students have graduated from the UAE editions, according to information released by the organisers when registration for the 2026 programme opened. That figure covers earlier cohorts and should not be confused with the number accepted for the current course.
Samsung's preceding 2025 programme trained 216 graduates across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The earlier course comprised 350 hours, compared with the 400 hours advertised for the current UAE programme, although the two figures cover different participant groups.
For this edition, teaching materials are provided without charge, and students can access sessions remotely. The published timetable runs across approximately three months, with a combination of live instruction and independent coursework intended to accommodate different learning schedules.
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