Dr. Najwa Araj

Dr. Najwa Araj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in AbuDhabi, where she leads research across quantum, AI, robotics, and digital security.

Dr. Aaraj earned her PhD with highest honors from Princeton University, where she specialized in applied cryptography and embedded systems security. Early in her career, she worked at IBM and Intel Corporation - helping develop secure computer chips that now protect passwords, encryption keys, and system safety in billions of devices worldwide.

She then joined Booz & Company. as a consultant, leading major tech strategy projects across five continents. At the UAE’s DarkMatter LLC Group, she directed product development, designing secure architectures and national-scale authentication systems.

Today, Dr. Aaraj leads at Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of the UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council, which was established to drive scientific and technological leadership in the region.

She first joined TII to head research in cryptography and autonomous robotics, and became CEO in 2024. Dr. Aaraj now oversees over 1,100 scientists working on technologies that support secure and autonomous systems.

Dr. Aaraj also teaches at Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI. Her honors include the Arab Woman Awards, the Femtum Leap Innovation Award, and the Wu Prize for Research Excellence.

Through both science and leadership, the dynamic and highly accomplished Dr. Aaraj is shaping the UAE’s future as a global hub for advanced technology.

Last updated: August 2025