Dubai Crown Prince inaugurates IIM Ahmedabad’s first international campus
Ceremony attended by top UAE and Indian ministers and officials
DUBAI – His Highness 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, has inaugurated the first international campus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) at Dubai International Academic City, part of TECOM Group PJSC.
Sheikh Hamdan welcomed the prestigious institution to Dubai, stating that the opening reflects the deep-rooted ties and growing partnership between the UAE and India. He highlighted that, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai is rapidly emerging as a hub for outstanding students, global talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
He added that empowering the youth with skills, knowledge, and values was crucial to shaping Dubai’s future. He further underlined that Dubai’s ability to attract world-class universities supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to place Dubai among the world’s top three urban economies, and the Education 33 Strategy, designed to rank Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities by 2033.
Who attended?
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior UAE officials, including Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Sara bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Helal Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; and Aisha Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
Representing India were Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Government of India, Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, alongside senior IIMA officials.
IIM Ahmedabad campus in Dubai
The new Dubai campus marks IIMA’s first international venture, made possible through the joint vision of the leadership of the UAE and India. Located in Dubai International Academic City, the campus aims to offer world-class education to aspiring leaders across the Middle East and neighbouring regions while encouraging cultural and academic collaboration.
The first academic programme introduced is a one-year full-time MBA, structured across five terms, designed to meet the upskilling needs of professionals and entrepreneurs seeking global management expertise. The programme promises rigorous academic training and international exposure reflecting the standards of IIMA’s highly ranked MBA.
The Dubai campus is equipped with advanced resources and modern amenities to support students. Additionally, IIMA plans to establish two centres of excellence during its first year in Dubai: one dedicated to case writing and development, and another to start-up incubation. More academic programmes are expected to follow in the coming years.
How does it fit Dubai’s vision?
During the event, India’s Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, remarked that the new campus marks another step in the globalisation of India’s education sector and reflects the ethos of “Indian in spirit, global in outlook.”
Pankaj Patel, Chairperson of IIMA’s Board of Governors, said the Dubai expansion underscores the Institute’s mission to shape leaders ready for an interconnected world, particularly by establishing a base in a city renowned for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Abdulla Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Group PJSC, emphasised that Dubai’s higher education sector is evolving to meet future-focused skill requirements. He said the Education Cluster, comprising Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City, currently hosts over 85% of private higher education students in Dubai and continues to attract top-tier institutions such as IIMA.