UAE, Google Partner to Offer Free Access to Gemini 2.5 Pro for University Students

University students across the United Arab Emirates will receive a full year of free access to Google’s latest generative artificial intelligence model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, as part of a new partnership between the UAE government and Google.

The initiative, launched under the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, is designed to strengthen the country’s AI talent ecosystem by providing students with advanced tools to enhance research, creativity, and productivity.

Under the partnership, all university students aged 18 and above can register before December 9, 2025, to access a complimentary 12-month subscription to the Gemini Pro plan. Registration requires only a personal email address. Once enrolled, students will be able to use Google’s full suite of AI-powered products for academic and creative work.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, said the initiative reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to building national capabilities in emerging technologies.

“The UAE is committed to achieving global leadership by leveraging artificial intelligence to develop skills, build capabilities, enhance efficiency, and accelerate innovation across all sectors,” Al Olama said. “Our vision is centred on empowering society through technology and AI, supported by partnerships that promote continuous learning and creativity.”

Anthony Nakache, Google’s Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of providing equal opportunities for all students to benefit from the latest AI advancements.

“We want university students across the UAE to equally benefit from Gemini’s latest models and features to enhance their research skills and thrive in their educational journey,” Nakache said. He noted a sharp rise in interest in AI tools among young people, citing Google Trends data showing a 110 percent increase in AI- and study-related searches in the UAE over the past two months compared with the same period last year.

Students participating in the programme will gain access to Gemini 2.5 Pro — Google’s most capable model for complex reasoning, analysis, and creative generation — along with Deep Research, which provides multi-source insights and research summaries. Additional tools include NotebookLM for idea organisation and Veo 3, which can transform text or photos into short videos with sound. Participants will also receive 2 terabytes of cloud storage across Google Drive, Photos, Gmail, and Docs.

The initiative supports the UAE’s broader strategy to cultivate a generation skilled in artificial intelligence. It follows a series of government-led efforts to advance AI education through training programmes, research hubs, and international collaborations.

By offering students free access to one of the world’s most advanced AI models, the UAE aims to position its youth at the forefront of innovation, aligning with its vision to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.