IIM Ahmedabad partners with UAE govt to launch campus in Dubai offering MBA program

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the IIMA Dubai campus, which will offer a one-year full-time MBA program. The MoU was signed during an event in Mumbai on April 8.

The IIMA Dubai Campus will launch its first program, a full-time, one-year MBA, designed for working professionals and entrepreneurs. Admission to the program will be based on a standardized GMAT/GRE score obtained in the past five years, following a two-stage process.

The course will span five terms, aiming to provide students with exposure to both academic learning and real-world experience. According to a statement from IIMA, the admissions process will begin shortly, with the first cohort set to begin in September 2025.

The establishment of the IIMA Dubai campus will occur in two stages, according to the press release. In the first phase, the UAE government will provide space in the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). In the second phase, IIMA will receive land for the permanent campus, which is expected to be built and operational by 2029.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement was signed by Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIMA, and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism.

“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,” said Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIMA.

“Dubai offers unparalleled opportunities to engage with industry leaders, multinational corporations, and high-growth startups. Our presence in Dubai will also strengthen our offerings in India, and together, these two campuses will help us become a leader in management,” Professor Bhasker added.

“We have successfully grown our full-time one-year MBA program over the last 20 years, and it will be the first program we offer at the Dubai campus,” he concluded.