AUB and UAE Center Sign Agreement to Offer EMBA Program to Emirate Institutions

Najjar and Kamali sign the agreement

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business recently signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi-based Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training, under which AUB will offer an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in the United Arab Emirates. The center's educational programs are held under the authority of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education.

The agreement was signed between Dean George Najjar of the Olayan School of Business and Tayyeb Kamali, vice president of the center, in the presence of Provost Peter Heath and Abdel Hamid Hallab, advisor to President John Waterbury."This agreement shows the special relation that exists between AUB and Abu Dhabi, which was exemplified by Sheikh Zayed's generosity," said Najjar, in reference to the donations made to AUB by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, the UAE's former president. "It is the first agreement of its kind, and brings AUB programs to the outside world. We hope it will mark the beginning of a promising future that will consolidate AUB as a regional educational powerhouse," he added.

On his part, Kamali said, "We are proud of this collaboration, which will hopefully prove to be the start of further partnerships. This is the first time a special EMBA program is being offered in Abu Dhabi."

The agreement will take effect in September 2006, when applications for enrollment in the program will be accepted. AUB faculty at the Olayan School of Business will give the courses to Abu Dhabi students, who will then receive their diplomas from AUB.

The EMBA program was introduced in 2004, and graduated its first class in 2006. Currently three other classes are enrolled in the program at AUB.