IIM Ahmedabad launches Dubai campus with 35-student inaugural MBA cohort

IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) has officially launched its first international campus located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), with its inaugural MBA cohort of 35 students.

The launch was marked by a ceremony attended by Dubai Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, among other dignitaries.

The one-year full-time MBA programme, structured across five terms, is designed for global professionals and entrepreneurs. Admission is open to candidates from diverse sectors including banking, financial services, insurance, consulting, IT, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Women make up approximately 23% (8 out of 35) of the inaugural class.

IIMA has also announced that in its first year, the Dubai campus will house two centres of excellence: one devoted to case-writing and development, and the other to start-up incubation.

Further programs are expected to be introduced in coming years as the campus expands.

The Dubai campus launch is part of the shared vision between IIMA and the UAE leadership. According to IIMA, the campus aligns with Dubai’s “Education 33 Strategy”, which aims to position the city among the top 10 global student destinations by 2033.

Earlier in the year, IIMA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE government to establish this campus. Plans are for a two-phase development: the first phase makes use of space in DIAC, while the second involves constructing a permanent campus, expected to be operational by 2029.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, speaking at the launch, said the new campus reflects the ethos of being “Indian in spirit, global in outlook,” representing an important step in educational collaboration between India and the UAE.

During the same visit, Minister Pradhan also inaugurated the Atal Incubation Centre at the Dubai campus and launched new PhD and BTech programs in Chemical Engineering and Energy & Sustainability at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus.