Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, inaugurated the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad's (IIMA) first international campus at Dubai International Academic City, part of TECOM Group PJSC.
According to Emirates News Agency, the opening of this prestigious institution's first international campus in Dubai signifies the strengthening ties and partnership between the UAE and India. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized Dubai's rapid growth as a destination for exceptional students and a global hub for talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He highlighted the importance of equipping the youth with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in a rapidly changing international environment.
The ceremony was attended by key UAE dignitaries including Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Indian representatives included Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Government of India; and Sunjay Sudhir, the Ambassador of India to the UAE.
The IIMA Dubai Campus is a product of the collaboration between the Indian and Dubai governments, aimed at expanding IIMA's global presence in management education. The campus will provide world-class learning opportunities and foster cross-cultural exchange. It is equipped with cutting-edge academic resources to support students' needs.
Dharmendra Pradhan remarked that the inauguration is a step towards the globalisation of India's education and a milestone in India-UAE knowledge collaboration. The Dubai campus, embodying the ethos of 'Indian in spirit, global in outlook', offers a perfect launchpad for IIMA's international campus.
The first programme offered is a full-time one-year MBA, designed to meet the learning needs of global professionals and entrepreneurs. Pankaj Patel, Chairperson of IIMA's Board of Governors, expressed pride in this milestone and the extension of IIMA's global footprint to Dubai, a dynamic hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group PJSC, acknowledged Dubai's evolving higher education sector and its role in equipping talent with future-focused skills. The Education Cluster, which includes Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City, plays a significant role in attracting leading higher education institutions like IIMA.
In its first year, IIMA's Dubai Campus plans to establish two centres of excellence focusing on case writing, development, and start-up incubation. The Institute intends to expand its academic offerings in the coming years.
