SAFIR institute

Research is at the core of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s vision and ambition. SUAD has positioned itself as a significant contributor to research and innovation in the UAE and GCC region. The university plays an active role in fostering academic-industry research partnerships in Abu Dhabi that drive innovation and practical impact across key sectors. 

Through its leading research institute, SAFIR, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi focuses its research on the areas of excellence of Sorbonne Université and Université Paris Cité, as well as the fields of expertise of professors based at the Abu Dhabi campus. SUAD ongoing research projects in the UAE span multiple disciplines, addressing critical challenges and contributing to regional and international knowledge. 

Committed to advancing scientific research in Abu Dhabi, the university ensures that its work remains closely aligned with Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s Vision 2030, supporting national priorities and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

SAFIR hosts seven research centres to conduct innovative and ambitious research on seven strategic research themes:

World-class institutes and research labs in France, along with major industry players and stakeholders, collaborate with SAFIR to develop innovative research projects. SCAI and the Ocean Institute are at the forefront of international and multi-stakeholder collaborations.

“As the head of SAFIR, I envision the institute as SUAD’s ambassador of high-quality, impactful, and responsible research. As its name suggests, SAFIR represents a vision of scholarship that speaks with clarity and responsibility to the social, economic, environmental, and technological challenges of our time. Grounded in interdisciplinarity and innovation, SAFIR brings together diverse fields of inquiry to address the complex realities shaping Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the wider region. Our work is rooted in local priorities and global excellence, aligned with Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

At the heart of SAFIR is a community of committed, excellent faculty researchers whose expertise and dedication drive our mission forward. Through collaborative partnerships, critical thinking, and a focus on relevance and responsibility, SAFIR positions research as a bridge between knowledge and action, empowering researchers and policymakers and forging a vibrant research ecosystem at the heart of Abu Dhabi.” 

Dr. Clio Chaveneau, Head of SAFIR, Associate Professor at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi 

The Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi Repository is a digital archive of the scholarly, intellectual, and research outputs of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. The repository provides access to books, book chapters, research articles, and international conference papers produced by the SUAD Research Community. 

Please click here to access the repository. 

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