United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) is a public research institution in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It was established in 1976 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. It is the country’s first and oldest university.^[2]

UAEU was established with the goal of advancing education in the UAE and addressing the nation’s growing need for professionals in key sectors such as engineering, law, business, and healthcare.^[3] Sheikh Zayed saw the university as a way to build a skilled workforce that would support the development and modernization of the UAE.^[4]

The university admitted its first class of students in 1977, starting with a modest number of students and faculty.^[5] Over the years, UAEU expanded its academic offerings and infrastructure. By the 1990s, it had established various faculties and research centers to meet the demands of the UAE's rapidly growing economy. In the early 2000s, UAEU embarked on significant infrastructure development, including the construction of a new campus with state-of-the-art facilities.^[6]