10 Top Dubai, United Arab Emirates MBA Programs to Consider

Did you know that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to campuses of many of the world's top ranked business schools? London Business School (LBS), INSEAD, and New York Institute of Technology are just a few. The world’s top ranked business schools recognize that explosive growth in profitable industries from finance to manufacturing, a strategic location (Dubai is one of the world’s fastest growing economies), and pro-business policies make the UAE one of the best places to educate tomorrow's global business leaders. In response to the demand, establishments in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other UAE cities have developed partnerships with international universities from the U.S., UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and other countries. 

In Dubai alone, several academic centers, including Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), now cater to a community of more than 25,000 students from over 145 nationalities. Overall, the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) has licensed 79 colleges and universities to operate in the UAE, with post-secondary and business education seeing “greater collaboration between western and Dubai-based entities.” Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, is on the same path. Both cities attract MBA students from around the world for full-time or part-time study, internships, and study abroad experiences. 

Let’s take a look at some of the schools that offer MBA programs in the UAE and why they should be on your radar. Here’s a sneak peek: many of the schools on our list are triple accredited (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS). In 2016, just 75 business schools in the world held triple-crown accreditation from the most prestigious international accrediting bodies. 

1. American University in Dubai (AUD) 

Founded in 1995, the American University in Dubai “seeks to provide its students a genuinely American university experience, placing emphasis on the educational, professional and personal growth of each student.” Located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which consists of 1,539 active registered companies, with a combined workforce of 21,076 people, this private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning had an enrollment of 2,700 students in 2014-2015. More than 100 hundred nationalities were represented in Spring 2015.

AUD’s School of Business Administration offers a top-ranked MBA program with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Marketing. All programs and majors of AUD's School of Business Administration are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (CAA – MOHESR). AUD has also received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). 

2. Canadian University Dubai (CUD) 

Founded in 2006, Canadian University Dubai (CUD) offers a “Canadian based curriculum in the  heart of Dubai.” Centrally located within Dubai and the GCC, CUD is 1.5 hours from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain (the third emerging power in UAE after Dubai and Abu Dhabi), and just 30 minutes from Sharjah—the “Cultural Capital” of the Arab World.” The campus is “steps away from Sheikh Zayed Road, the main thoroughfare of downtown Dubai and a hub of big business. The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and many of Dubai's premier attractions are a short walking distance from the University's campus.” 

This private university is home to seven schools including the School of Graduate Studies, which offers Master level programs that “have been developed to respond to the increasingly globalized and technologically-driven business environment.” Offerings include a General Management MBA and MBAs in Human Resource Management (HRM), Marketing, Islamic Banking, and Finance. Students may also choose the MBA Double Concentration option or the Master in Information Technology Management and Governance (MITGOV). 

All CUD programs are accredited by the Ministry of Education - Higher Education Affairs. 

3. Cass Business School, City, University of London - Dubai 

Established in 1894, Cass Business School City, University of London offers an Executive MBA (EMBA) in Dubai “that ranks amongst the world's elite.” In 2016, the Cass EMBA ranked 5th in the UK, 13th in Europe and 31st in the world by Financial Times. Besides offering a top EMBA program, Cass Dubai is located in bustling Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

One of University of London’s five schools, Cass Business School is also one of the few schools to earn triple-crown accreditation—Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs (AMBA), and European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). 

4. Hult International Business School, Cambridge Massachusetts - Dubai 

Based in Cambridge Massachusetts, Hult International Business School is a “new kind of business school for the global generation” that highlights “seven cutting-edge campus locations in the world’s most influential markets.” The Dubai campus is “located in the heart of Internet City alongside the likes of MasterCard, LinkedIn and Microsoft.” Students here have two MBA programs to choose from including the Global One-Year MBA and the Global Executive MBA (EMBA). Hult Dubai also offers Master’s degrees in International Business, International Marketing, Finance, and International Banking. 

Hult International Business School accreditations include AMBA (Only for the MBA program), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education (BAC), and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (Boston-based programs).

5. INSEAD Fontainebleau France - Abu Dhabi 

Founded in 1957, INSEAD has campuses in France (main), Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, along with an alumni community of 52,630 from 169 countries and 156 nationalities. The Abu Dhabi campus opened in 2007 with a commitment to “developing business education and to bringing advanced managerial ideas and worldwide business practices to one of the fastest-growing geographies of the world.” The campus offers a Global Executive MBA (INSEAD EMBA) that covers areas such as Doing Business in the Middle East (DBiME) and Negotiations, as well as an Active Learning Course (ALC) that gives students the opportunity to take on actual projects for companies in the UAE. The Abu Dhabi section, which starts every October, merges with the other sections from France and Singapore during its second half. 

INSEAD is triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. INSEAD Abu Dhabi has been officially licensed since December 1, 2010 by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates to award degrees/qualifications in higher education. 

6. London Business School (LBS) - Dubai 

London Business School (LBS) was founded in 1964. Since then, the school has educated 150,000 students from 130 countries. Each year, 2,000 degree students from over 100 countries are taught by LBS faculty. The school’s Dubai campus is located in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and offers MBA, EMBA, and EMBA Global degrees. LBS is triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. 

7. New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Manhattan New York - Abu Dhabi

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Manhattan was the first American University established in the UAE’s capital city Abu Dhabi. The campus, which is located in the Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) Technology Park, offers six degree programs. Among them is a Management MBA with optional concentrations in Decision Science, Finance, and Marketing. NYIT-Abu Dhabi also offers Master’s degrees in Information, Network & Computer Security, and Instructional Technology. 

All academic programs offered at NYIT-Abu Dhabi have received initial accreditation by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (C.A.A.), U.A.E. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). The MBA has received full C.A.A. accreditation and the Business Administration programs are also accredited by AACSB International. In the U.S., NYIT is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSCHE). 

8. S P Jain School of Global Management, Dubai 

S P Jain Global School of Management opened its first international campus in Dubai in 2004 “with the objective to focus on global learning.” Since then, S P Jain has been ranked No. 1 in the UAE in a Brand Perception Audit conducted by Nielsen. The Dubai-headquartered school, which also has campuses in Singapore, Sydney, and Mumbai, is located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and covers around 60,000 square feet in a stand-alone building. Students also have access to one of Dubai’s largest residential areas, International City, with bus service that transports them to and from campus. 

S P Jain is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Government of Dubai, U.A.E. The academic qualifications granted by S P Jain and certified by KHDA are recognized in the Emirate of Dubai by all public and private entities for all purposes. 

9. University of Manchester, Alliance Manchester Business School (Alliance MBS) UK - Dubai 

Established in 1965, Alliance Manchester Business School (Alliance MBS) was one of the first two business schools in the UK. Today, Alliance MBS is the UK's largest campus-based business and management school and the only UK business school with a presence in six global hubs including Manchester, Dubai, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. The Dubai campus (MBS Middle East Center) was established in 2006 and sits in Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP)—the city’s “premier destination for professional training and development.” The campus supports more than 2,000 part-time MBA students and is the largest and fastest growing campus in the MBS international network. Alliance MBS is triple-accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. 

10. University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde Business School (SBS) Glasgow – Abu Dhabi & Dubai 

Founded in 1948, Strathclyde Business School (SBS) operates in eight international Strathclyde MBA centers including Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, Greece, and the Gulf (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Oman). As a result, there are approximately 1,500 students currently enrolled in the Strathclyde MBA around the world. The school, which recently celebrated “50 years of its prestigious MBA program,” is triple accredited by the AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.

Both the Strathclyde Dubai and Abu Dhabi campuses offer an Executive MBA - International (Strathclyde EMBA International) that may be completed on a part-time schedule.

Note: The schools on our list are not ranked. They are in alphabetical order. In addition, all school information was obtained from each school’s official website. At the time this article was published, all information was accurate. 

Sources 

"Active Institutions." Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). Commission for Academic Accreditation, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. 

Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). TECOM Group, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. 

Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP). TECOM Group, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. 

"Education." The Official Portal of Dubai Government. Government of Dubai, 2000-2016. Web. 06 Oct. 2016. 

"Financial Times." FT.com. Financial Times, 2016. Web. 07 Oct. 2016.