UAE students’ perspectives on use of artificial intelligence tools in higher education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education by enhancing teaching, learning, assessment, and academic support. As the United Arab Emirates continues to prioritize digital transformation and AI-driven innovation, understanding the factors that influence students’ adoption of AI tools has become increasingly important. This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools among higher education students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by integrating the Technology Acceptance Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected through an electronic questionnaire administered to a random sample of more than 80 university students. The data were analysed using Jamovi statistical software to examine the relationships between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, subjective norms, and behavioural intention to adopt AI tools. The findings indicate that perceived usefulness and students’ attitudes towards AI are the strongest predictors of behavioural intention to adopt AI tools. In contrast, perceived ease of use and subjective norms were not found to have a statistically significant influence on adoption intention. These findings provide valuable insights for higher education institutions and policymakers seeking to promote the effective integration of AI into teaching and learning. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AI adoption in higher education by highlighting context-specific factors that influence students’ acceptance of AI technologies in the United Arab Emirates and offers recommendations for future research and institutional practice.