IIMA Dubai campus to be located in Dubai International Academic City, a premier higher education hub

The Indian Express first reported on January 10, 2024, during the 20th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2024, where UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended as the chief guest, that the IIMA will expand its reach to Arab nations by opening its Dubai centre.

The MoU was exchanged by IIMA Director Prof Bharat Bhasker, and Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Defence of the UAE; and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry.

In the first phase, the IIMA will be provided with space in the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the region’s premier higher education hub with a multicultural environment. The campus will provide access to cutting-edge academic resources to inspire innovation and foster excellence. In the second phase of campus development, the IIMA will be provided with land where the permanent campus will come up and be operational from 2029.

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Pankaj Patel, Chairperson of Board of Governors, IIMA, said, “Over the next decade, we envision the Dubai campus to be a thriving centre where young leaders of tomorrow will hone their skills, innovate and become pathfinders. As we create new learning experiences globally, we remain committed to transformative learning, leadership, and creating enduring impact in the community.”

The IIMA Dubai Campus will offer a full-time one-year MBA programme, designed to cater to the advanced management learning and upskilling needs of global working professionals and entrepreneurs. This immersive programme, with IIMA’s acclaimed case method pedagogy, aims to equip ambitious professionals with cutting-edge business insights to navigate global market challenges and prepare them for C-suite leadership while aligning with the UAE’s vision for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

Highlighting the significance of this strategic milestone, Prof Bhasker said, “Dubai has emerged as a thriving global epicentre for innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship, making it the ideal location for us to establish our first international campus. Our objective is to provide high-quality management education to aspiring leaders in the Middle East and surrounding regions. I am confident that this synergy will set new benchmarks for academic and research collaboration in Asia and the Middle East.”

He further said, “Dubai offers unparalleled opportunities to engage with industry leaders, multinational corporations, and high-growth startups. While this collaboration strengthens IIMA’s commitment to offering world-class management education, it will also foster cross-cultural exchanges that will prepare our graduates to thrive in a globalised environment. Our presence in Dubai offers unparalleled access to international markets, world-class faculty, and a diverse, high-achieving peer group alongside IIM Ahmedabad’s legacy of academic rigour and international exposure for personal and professional growth. Our presence in Dubai will also strengthen our offerings in India, and together, these two campuses will help us become a global leader in management education with a seamless exchange of innovation and knowledge.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Hadi Badri, CEO, Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), said, “The launch of IIMA’s Dubai campus is poised to further underline the city’s global reputation as a hub for talent, innovation and entrepreneurship, providing a platform to further elevate business leadership skills not just within Dubai, but across the wider region. We are committed to leveraging global partnerships and educational excellence to drive economic impact, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33. This partnership further underlines the strong economic and social links between Dubai and India, and we look forward to working with IIMA to firmly establish the institution within Dubai’s academic and business landscape.”

Applauding the partnership between IIMA and the UAE government, Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, said, “With a resident Indian diaspora strength of 4.36 million as at the end of 2024, the largest concentration of Indian nationals outside the country, UAE seems to be a natural destination for iconic temples of higher learning from India who intend to expand their footprint globally. IIMA campus in Dubai will bring the best of Indian management education to Indians in UAE and the wider region, our Emirati friends, and the truly global expat population, which calls Dubai their home. IIMA Dubai campus will be the best addition till date to Dubai and UAE’s higher education landscape, potentially transforming and further solidifying UAE’s growing status not just as the global logistics, economic and financial hub but a crucial education hub that services the diverse sectors of global economy by producing high-quality professionals.”

Admission to the full-time one-year MBA course at IIMA’s Dubai campus will follow a rigorous two-stage process based on the standardised GMAT/GRE score taken within the last five years. Spread over five terms, the programme will provide rigorous academics and international exposure within an elite learning environment that mirrors the excellence of IIM Ahmedabad’s globally renowned MBA. It will also offer an extensive portfolio of electives, expanding ample scope for personalised learning and specialisation.