People-to-People and Cultural Bridges
People-to-people ties remain a cornerstone of the UAE-Belgium bilateral relationship. A vibrant Belgian community contributes to many sectors in the UAE, from business and engineering to academia, culture, and science, while growing numbers of Emirati students, professionals, and visitors engage with Belgium each year.
Cultural exchanges, educational partnerships, exhibitions, festivals and heritage initiatives continue to deepen mutual understanding and connections between the peoples of both countries.
Higher Education and Biomedical Research: A Flagship Academic Partnership
Cooperation in higher education, scientific research, and innovation constitutes one of the most dynamic and forward-looking dimensions of the UAE–Belgium partnership, anchored by a flagship strategic alliance between Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi and KU Leuven, one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious research universities, together with the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB).
In February 2022, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians, Khalifa University and VIB–KU Leuven signed a landmark agreement to launch the Biomedical Science Discovery (BISDI) program, supported by an initial investment of EUR 10 million over a two-year run-in period. The program aims to develop new treatments for diabetes and its cardiovascular complications through innovative, artificial intelligence-based target discovery and drug validation tools — a first-of-its-kind bilateral exchange program in the healthcare field between the UAE and Belgium, supported by the Flanders Investment & Trade Agency (FIT). The partnership is a milestone in the development of modern life-science research in both countries.
Building on this foundation, in July 2024, Khalifa University and KU Leuven announced the launch of a Dual PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, under which students from each institution spend at least one year of their doctoral studies at the partner university, conducting joint research under the co-supervision of advisors from both sides. The final thesis is examined by a joint committee, and graduates receive certificates from both universities, strengthening human capital development, research excellence, and the long-term scientific ties between the UAE and Belgium.
Beyond this flagship partnership, cooperation in education and research continues to expand across a growing network of Emirati and Belgian universities, research institutes, and cultural organizations, fostering lasting connections between students, scholars, and institutions of both countries.
