Women in AI
Dr. Najwa Aaraj
CEO, Technology Innovation Institute
Dr. Najwa Aaraj is the Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, the applied research pillar of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). She was appointed CEO in May 2024, succeeding Dr. Ray O. Johnson.
Under TII's leadership, the institute developed the Falcon series of large language models, which became among the highest-performing open-source AI models globally. TII conducts research across seven centers spanning AI, autonomous robotics, cryptography, quantum computing, directed energy, secure systems, and propulsion.
Dr. Aaraj also serves as CEO of QuantumGate, TII's quantum computing venture. She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and previously held senior cybersecurity and technology roles. She was featured on Inc. Arabia's cover in 2025.
Her leadership of TII represents the UAE's ambitious push to become a global center for AI research and innovation.
