Institutional Advancement

NYU Abu Dhabi is dedicated to working together with our partners in support of the University’s vision to welcome and educate global citizens and produce knowledge to promote understanding and better society.

The Institutional Advancement Team works closely with University Development and Alumni Relations at NYU New York to support alumni, parents, companies, and friends, develop partnerships, and sponsorships and make other contributions to NYU Abu Dhabi. 

We create bespoke opportunities across all aspects of our work including student and faculty support; academic and research program development; public programming; and facilities and infrastructure. If you would like to find out more about how you can partner with us, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

Key People

Key Partners

NYUAD’s achievements are possible thanks to the generous support of our partners. Their commitment accelerates our progress towards achieving our mission.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) Scholarship Program identifies and selects outstanding students who demonstrate leadership potential in Mathematics or Computer Science, with the aim of supporting the growth of Abu Dhabi as an international hub for technology and innovation. ADIA selects scholarship students from local universities, including NYUAD.

Al Masaood Group is committed to supporting the growth and development of Emirati youth, and provides a scholarship at NYUAD for outstanding UAE Nationals. The selected Al Masaood Scholar receives tuition support throughout their studies at NYUAD.

Atlantis Dubai supports the Burt Marine Biology Lab’s leading research in the field of coral preservation as part of the Atlantis Atlas Project 1 USD Contribution Programme.


CSA Research LLC assists the university's Advanced Materials and Building Efficiency Research (AMBER) Lab’s innovative research in the field of sustainable building materials.

NYUAD Professor John Burt’s groundbreaking ocean research at the Mubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS) Center at NYUAD is generously supported by a grant from Dalio Philanthropies. The research focuses on increasing coral resilience to warming oceans by crossbreeding heat-resistant corals from the Arabian Gulf with heat-sensitive species. The goal is to develop climate-resistant corals that can better withstand the impacts of climate change.

Dolphin Energy sponsors the Kawader Research Assistantship Program, which aims to empower outstanding Emirati graduates in their pursuit of academic and research excellence. By establishing the Dolphin Energy Kawader Fellowship, this partnership supports innovative research initiatives that address critical environmental challenges. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing environmental stewardship and sustainable development within the UAE.


Emerson UAE sponsors the Emerson Scholarship at NYUAD, helping to foster an environment of equal opportunity for all students and empowering exceptional talent to reach their full potential through our world-class education.

With generous support from the Farjam Foundation, NYUAD established a new fellowship in honor of the late Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Professor of visual arts and first director of the Master of Fine Arts program at NYUAD. The Fellowship is awarded every academic year to an outstanding student in the MFA program.

Mubadala has also been the lead sponsor of The Arts Center at NYUAD for over three years, recently committing to a five-year partnership in 2024. In addition, through the Off the Stage presented by Mubadala program of workshops, artist talks, and other engagement events, Mubadala partners with The Arts Center to invest in the development of the local arts and culture ecosystem and the sharing of artistic techniques and knowledge.

In 2023 Mubadala made a transformative commitment to support the Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS) at NYUAD, which has been renamed the Mubadala ACCESS Center in recognition of our partnership. This strategic collaboration advances cutting-edge research on climate and environmental challenges specific to the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf region, helping align scientific inquiry with the region’s rapid economic and social development. The Mubadala ACCESS Center’s research contributes significantly to the country’s efforts to address the global climate crisis.