Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has been awarded the first-ever honorary doctorate from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi.
The historic ceremony, held at the university’s campus, was attended by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. His Highness Sheikh Khaled congratulated Altman, praising his contributions to artificial intelligence (AI) and their alignment with the UAE’s vision of building a world-class AI ecosystem that benefits humanity.
Ministers, dignitaries, and academic leaders joined the event, which celebrated Altman’s pioneering role in moving AI from research labs into global, everyday use. In his remarks, Altman expressed gratitude for the recognition and commended the UAE’s commitment to developing AI responsibly and ambitiously.
The award marks the inaugural honorary doctorate presented by MBZUAI, reflecting both Altman’s transformative leadership in AI and the UAE’s dedication to positioning itself at the forefront of technological innovation.