In a bold step onto the global education platform, India’s Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has declared the opening of its first ever international campus in Dubai, representing a historic first for the renowned school.
This strategic move was cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IIMA and the UAE government on April 8, 2025, in the presence of high-ranking dignitaries, including Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
The campus will be in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)—a global center for first-class higher education. The Dubai campus flagship program will be a one-year full-time MBA, aimed at professionals and entrepreneurs who want world-class management education with global application.
Applications will be open shortly, with admissions on the basis of GMAT or GRE scores, academic record, work experience, and personal interviews. The inaugural academic session is likely to commence in September 2025.
Although the early batches will function from a temporary UAE-provided facility, IIMA proposes to move to a permanent, specially designed campus by 2029.
This global growth fits into India’s National Education Policy, enhancing the nation’s emerging leadership in world higher education.
The Dubai campus will act as a strong link between the Middle East and India, providing unprecedented exposure, collaborative experiences, and cross-cultural engagement for future global leaders.
