University Leadership
Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Nathalie Martial-Braz has been a professor of private law and agrégé des Universités since 2011. She is an honorary member of the Institut Universitaire de France.
Nathalie Martial-Braz wrote her doctoral thesis on Security Interest on intellectual property rights, which was published in 2007 by PUF Aix-Marseilles. She is the author of numerous publications on digital law (Dalloz, JCP, Dalloz IP/IT, RDBF). She is also co-author of the book “Droit Français des données à caractère personnel” (French Data protection Law) published in January 2020 by Dalloz.
Nathalie Martial-Braz is also scientific co-director of the journal Communication Commerce électronique (Lexis-Nexis).
Nathalie Martial-Braz has been working at University Paris Cité since 2014 and heads the digital department of the Centre de droit des affaires et de gestion de l’Université de Paris (CEDAG), of which she was elected director in November 2022 for the next term 2024-2028. Since September 2021, she has been delegated to Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
She has been co-director of the Intellectual and Digital Property Department of Trans Europe Experts since its creation in 2009.
In 2020, Nathalie Martial-Braz founded and co-directed at University Paris Cité with Professor Anne Debet, Professor of Private Law and member of the CNIL, the first Master’s degree exclusively dedicated to Data Protection Law.
Nathalie Martial-Braz is regularly interviewed by the public institutions in charge of digital issues, thanks to her recognised expertise in financial and securities law, as well as in intellectual property and digital law, and particularly in the area of data protection law. Her works on the ‘uberisation’ and ‘platformisation’ of society, on social networks, on the digital economy in general such as fintechs and cryptoassets, and on the economics of health data, all of which has been published, has given rise to expert missions for the European Parliament, the French Council of State, the French Ministry of Health, the UNCITRAL and members of French or European Parliament responsible for reporting on these subjects.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Educated in History at Versailles University and at Sorbonne, in information sciences and cultural professions at the École des Chartes and in teaching as holder of the Agrégation, Bertrand Haan is an Associate Professor at Sorbonne University since 2008.
Involved in education management and enhancement, and having served as a member of Sorbonne University’s Academic Council in 2016–17 and 2022–23, Bertrand Haan has been involved in the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi project since 2018. He is the director of the Archival Programs, bringing with him an international dimension to the program. In 2022–23, he served as Head of Mission for the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, acting as an intermediate between Paris and Abu Dhabi.
A former member of Casa de Velázquez, Bertrand Haan is a specialist in the history of the Spanish monarchy in the 16th and 17th centuries. His research also focuses on diplomacy, peace, religion pacification and friendship, as well as political and religious commitments in early modern Europe... He is the author of two book, Une paix pour l’éternité. La négociation du traité du Cateau-Cambrésis (2010) and L’amitié entre princes. Une alliance franco-espagnole au temps des guerres de Religion 1560-1570 (2011), which are based on his doctoral thesis. He is also co-editor of Servir le prince en temps de guerre civile dans l’Europe aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles (2024). His latest research is an exploration of political derision.
Committed to the promotion of History on an international scale, he is General Secretary of the Comité français des Sciences historiques. One of his main achievements is the co-edition of the book Regards croisés sur l’historiographie française aujourd’hui (2020).
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Dr. Majed Khamis Al Khemeiri is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD). He is distinguished as the first Emirati graduate from Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi to earn a doctorate from Sorbonne University in Paris. In recognition of this milestone, he was honored by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2018.
Dr. Al Khemeiri earned his PHD from Sorbonne University in Paris, focusing on “Strategic Planning and Sustainable Development: The Future of the United Arab Emirates.” He also holds two master’s degrees, one in Marketing, Management, Communication, and Media, and another in Sustainable Development Law, as well as two bachelor’s degrees in History and Geography.
Since joining SUAD in 2013, Dr. Al Khemeiri has held several key roles. He began his journey in the Planning and Performance Department before being appointed as Head of the Human Resources Department in 2016, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing HR policies and practices. In 2019, he was appointed as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs. In June 2024, his role expanded to include Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs, Student Recruitment, and Institutional Planning and Effectiveness, Quality Assurance. Further demonstrating his ability to lead diverse teams and strategic initiatives to raise the university’s profile.
Since November 2024, Dr. Al Khemeiri has been serving as the key representative of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi for the Zayed Military University (ZMU) project, demonstrating his leadership in overseeing critical institutional initiatives.
Under Dr. Al Khemeiri’s guidance, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has experienced substantial growth. He has overseen the expansion of faculty and scientific programs, increased student enrollment, and improved budget management and revenue collection. His strategic vision and expertise have been instrumental in driving the university’s continued success.
In addition to his role at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Dr. Al Khemeiri is an active member of the Strategic Committee of Alliance Française, reflecting his commitment to fostering cultural exchange and promoting the French language and culture in the UAE.