OpenAI's Sam Altman awarded MBZUAI’s first honorary doctorate

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has been awarded the first-ever honorary doctorate from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi.

The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council, who congratulated Altman and praised his global impact on AI development.

Held at the MBZUAI campus, the event brought together ministers, dignitaries and university leaders to celebrate Altman’s role in bringing artificial intelligence from research labs into everyday life on a global scale.

Sheikh Khaled praised Altman’s contributions as aligned with the UAE’s vision to build a world-class AI ecosystem that serves humanity and drives inclusive growth.

Speaking at the event, Altman said he was honoured to receive the award and commended the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI in a responsible and ambitious way.

Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed has witnessed the inaugural Honorary Doctorate conferral ceremony of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, awarding Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in recognition of his transformative leadership in artificial intelligence. pic.twitter.com/zEqAOL5Icb

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) September 26, 2025