UAE national academic talent mapping for a leading UAE university
The Challenge
A leading UAE university wanted a comprehensive, data-driven picture of UAE national academic talent across every research discipline relevant to its programmes.
It had no up-to-date database of Emirati researchers – from doctoral students to professors, in the UAE and abroad. That made strategic workforce planning and opportunity hiring hard to carry out with confidence.
Leadership needed a reliable foundation to support its Emiratisation goals, faculty pipeline development and long-term engagement with national academic talent.
Our Role
AcuityX designed and delivered a full-scope talent mapping project, working with UAE universities, relevant federal and emirate-level government agencies and authorised public sources.
We identified, verified and profiled more than 200 UAE national research-active academics across engineering, computer science, mathematics, the sciences, social sciences, management and policy, and the humanities.
Each profile was mapped against the client’s departmental priorities, covering academic rank, institutional affiliation and research discipline. All data was handled in line with UAE data protection law. We also analysed the wider academic landscape to identify structural trends, pipeline gaps and gender patterns.
The Outcome
The university gained an evidence-based foundation for strategic workforce planning, Emiratisation priorities and long-term engagement with UAE national academics. The database gave leadership a structured view of available talent by discipline, institution and career stage.
The accompanying analysis turned the data into practical insight: where Emirati faculty are concentrated, where representation is strong, and where the pipeline is thin – including in emerging technology fields. The university moved from fragmented market knowledge to a targeted, confident approach to faculty recruitment.
Frequently asked questions
What is academic talent mapping?
A structured, verified census of the researchers in a field or population – who they are, where they work and what they specialise in – used to plan hiring, succession and engagement.
How does AcuityX support Emiratisation in higher education?
We identify, verify and map UAE national talent, then turn that data into practical insight for faculty pipelines, opportunity hiring and long-term engagement.
Is personal data handled in line with UAE law?
Yes. Profiles were built from authorised sources and institutional collaboration, and all data was handled in compliance with applicable UAE data protection regulations.
