IIM Ahmedabad, UAE sign MoU for Dubai campus

Ahmedabad

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has signed an MoU with the UAE to open a new campus in Dubai. The agreement was exchanged between IIMA Director Prof. Bharat Bhasker and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. The ceremony was attended by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

Prof. Bhasker said the Dubai campus marks a big step in IIMA’s global journey. Located in Dubai International Academic City, the campus will begin with a full-time One-year MBA programme designed for professionals and entrepreneurs. The course will include five academic terms focusing on advanced skills, leadership, and international exposure.

This marks IIMA’s first international venture and reflects India’s growing role in global education. The Dubai initiative also aims to meet the rising demand for executive-level education in the Middle East.

India currently has 21 IIMs, all established by the Central government to produce world-class managers. IIM Ahmedabad, along with IIM Calcutta and IIM Bangalore, forms the first generation of top-tier institutes.

Over time, more IIMs like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore followed, building strong reputations. IIM Indore is known for launching the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM). Newer IIMs such as Shillong, Udaipur, and Rohtak have also gained prominence for unique offerings like sustainability and global exposure, further strengthening India’s management education network.