DUBAI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The first graduate-level and research-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) university in the world was announced established on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The university is named after Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"Launching the world's first graduate-level AI university in Abu Dhabi echoes the UAE's pioneering spirit, and paves the way for a new era of innovation and technological advancement that benefits the UAE and the world," the crown prince said on his official Twitter account.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the university's campus in Masdar City, a suburb of Abu Dhabi.

"The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is an open invitation from Abu Dhabi to the world to unleash AI's full potential," UAE's Minister of State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who has been appointed chair of the university's Board of Trustees, said at the conference.

Michael Brady, interim president of MBZUAI, said that "we will support students to capture opportunities and to magnify their contribution to the field of AI globally."

Graduate students can now apply to MBZUAI through the university's website with registration set to open in August 2020.

The first class will start at MBZUAI's Masdar City campus in September 2020.