The Petroleum Institute campus is now rebranded as the Sas Al Nakhl Campus of Khalifa University.

The Petroleum Institute University and Research Center (PI), as it was initially known, was established in 2001 to support the oil and gas industry of Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. To achieve that goal it developed and offered undergraduate and graduate engineering and research programs in areas of significance to the oil, gas and broader energy industries.

In 2006 the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 was announced, which provided the Petroleum Institute with further strategic direction for its academic and research activities. This resulted in a renewed mandate to support the development of the emirate’s human capital and contribute to Abu Dhabi’s strategic economic sectors, sustainable economic growth and economic diversification. The institute’s major affiliate has been the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and it also partnered closely with BP, Japan Oil Development Company, Shell, and Total.

In February 2017 PI merged with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI), and the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR), to produce one world-class, research-intensive institution, to develop world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering, called the Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU).

At KU, PI continues to play a critical role in the research structure and culture of the university, serving as an interdisciplinary research unit focused on long-term strategic priorities, which engages a critical mass of faculty. KU’s hydrocarbon production and exploration focused research centers are grouped under PI. As a research institute, PI also connects fundamental research with practical application through its partnership with local and international organizations, ADNOC. The Petroleum Institute campus is also now rebranded as the Sas Al Nakhl Campus of Khalifa University.