From Abu Dhabi to the Large Hadron Collider, a new generation of Emirati-based talent is stepping onto the world’s most advanced scientific stage
In a significant milestone for the UAE’s scientific and academic community, six engineering and physics students from Khalifa University have been selected to participate in the prestigious CERN International Summer Student Programme 2026, a highly competitive global initiative hosted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Out of approximately 10,000 applicants worldwide, only around 300 students were selected, placing Khalifa University among an elite group of institutions contributing talent to one of the world’s most advanced scientific collaborations.
For the selected students, this opportunity represents far more than an academic exchange. It provides direct involvement in cutting-edge research at the intersection of particle physics, engineering, and computing, placing them at the forefront of global scientific innovation. These projects highlight the close integration of physics, data science, and engineering, demonstrating how modern scientific breakthroughs increasingly rely on multidisciplinary collaboration.
Notably, Khalifa University recorded the highest number of accepted students from the UAE in this year’s programme, an achievement that reflects both the university’s academic excellence and the UAE’s growing presence in frontier science. Through collaborations with leading international organizations such as CERN and participation in the ATLAS Collaboration, one of the flagship experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), Khalifa University is playing an increasingly important role in advancing scientific research and developing the next generation of researchers and innovators.
