His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of Nad Zabeel, Dubai’s future research, design and innovation campus that aims to attract 30,000 researchers and specialists.
Located in Zabeel Park, Nad Zabeel will house laboratories, scientific and research centres, and creative and innovation incubators.
It will bring together leading scientists, researchers, engineers, innovators and future pioneers, alongside specialised talent and expertise from the UAE, the region and around the world.
The new architectural and knowledge landmark will also serve as an incubator for global partnerships, initiatives, and ambitious research projects.
The project was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation.
Announcing the launch in a post on social media platform X, Sheikh Mohammed said the campus will join the Dubai Future Foundation, Museum of the Future, and the Dubai Future Academy, to "form together the best environment in the world for foresight, preparation, and making the future".
The goal of the complex is to enable specialists and researchers to benefit from the complex's services in "developing vital future sectors linked to human life".
"Life has taught me that the future is not waited for, but made, and that the challenges facing nations are not caused by the speed of future developments, but by the slowness of preparing for it and thinking about it," said His Highness.
علمتني الحياة بأن المستقبل لا يُنتظر بل يصنع ..
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 1, 2026
وبأن التحديات التي تواجهها الأمم ليس سببها سرعة تطورات المستقبل .. بل بطء الاستعداد له والتفكير فيه .
اليوم نطلق "مجمع دبي لأبحاث المستقبل" الذي أسميناه "ند زعبيل" ..
هدفه استقطاب 30 ألف باحث ومتخصص للاستفادة من خدماته في تطوير… pic.twitter.com/l3whLozXMn
Nad Zabeel will serve as an incubator for the efforts and initiatives of the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Ecosystem, established under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan in December 2025.
The name draws on the Emirati word ‘nad,’ meaning elevated ground, reflecting the campus’s distinctive architectural character and embodies Dubai’s ambition to reach new heights in research, knowledge and innovation.
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