Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Global Partners Advance Regional AI Landscape at MenaML Winter School

Researchers from Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and Google DeepMind jointly organized the second Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Machine Learning Winter School (MenaML) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in Qatar, MenaML 2026 brought together leading researchers, scientists, and specialists in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning from around the region for six days of rigorous learning, technical exchange, and cross-border cooperation. The program continues to evolve as a flagship platform designed to strengthen research and cultivate the next generation of AI leaders. 

The sessions highlighted the latest developments in intelligent model engineering, AI for science, and high-efficiency computing technologies. Participants gained insights and knowledge to better integrate AI methodologies into their own research areas, while discussions addressed emerging industrial and scientific challenges.

Lectures, interactive dialogues, networking engagements, and more, ensured that the event fostered connections across institutions and accelerated the establishment of research teams aligned with priorities in technology, sustainability, health, and digital transformation. The diverse synergies between organizers and attendees further underscores a collective effort to elevate scientific capability and expand the region’s contribution to the global AI ecosystem.

Commenting on the Winter School, Dr. Ahmed K. Elmagarmid, Executive Director, QCRI, “HBKU is committed to advancing impact-driven research while building human capacity that will shape the future of artificial intelligence. Through partnerships with leading global institutions such as KAUST and Google DeepMind, MenaML strengthens the foundations of MENA’s machine learning capabilities, enabling collaboration, accelerating innovation, and positioning the Arab world as a contributor to frontier AI research.”

As HBKU continues to develop world-class graduates across globally relevant areas, initiatives such as MenaML reinforce the University’s role in shaping a robust and globally connected emerging technologies network.