Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, participated in the graduation ceremony of the inaugural cohort of Georgetown University's Executive MBA programme at the DIFC Academy.
According to Emirates News Agency, the graduation was part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum, an annual event centered on leadership and management transformation. The forum aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aiming to establish Dubai as a global leader. The event attracted 1,000 key figures from the government and private sectors in Dubai.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasized the significance of empowering national talent and equipping them with the necessary knowledge to become influential global leaders, aligning with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision of prioritizing investment in people. He highlighted the importance of qualified minds as the foundation for a strong economy and a sustainable society. The graduation of promising leaders was celebrated as a step towards guiding institutions to new horizons.
Sheikh Hamdan articulated the objective of preparing a new generation of executive leaders through such programmes, enhancing Dubai's status as a global economic hub and a center for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Georgetown Executive MBA programme, spanning 21 months, has been successful in attracting decision-makers and CEOs globally. Participants engaged in a variety of core subjects, expanding their knowledge in areas such as business, international affairs, public-private partnerships, business analytics, the future of work, and financial technology.
This programme, the first of its kind in the UAE, provides decision-makers with advanced education, enabling them to apply their skills in large institutions. Georgetown University, established in 1789 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a top-ranking global university recognized for its excellence in business and international relations.
The Executive MBA is the sole US programme of its kind offered in Dubai, featuring instruction from esteemed faculty at the McDonough School of Business, with an emphasis on innovation, strategy, and social impact. Dubai's first cohort included 53 graduates from various sectors and nationalities such as the UAE, Egypt, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Notable alumni from Georgetown University include His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, former US President Bill Clinton, and King Felipe VI of Spain. The programme is globally recognized, ranked 10th in the US and 2nd worldwide for student satisfaction, and 3rd and 4th in the US for alumni network strength and career progression, respectively.
Georgetown University achieved the top ranking worldwide for master's and bachelor's programmes in international relations, based on Foreign Policy magazine's 2024 ranking, and placed 14th in political science in the 2024 QS World University ranking by subject.
