Country Guide

United Arab Emirates

Raymi Van Der Spek, vice president (administration) of the University of Wollongong, Dubai explains that, in the Emirate of Dubai in particular there has been a great deal of controversy over less reputable, private business schools offering sub-standard MBA programs.

“A number of institutions came [to the UAE] believing that they will grow significantly. They didn’t, so they closed their doors,” says Van Der Spek. “Un-accredited universities can do that, just close their doors and leave their students stranded.”

MBA accreditation

In fact, this problem became so serious that in 1999 the Dubai Ministry of Education was forced to introduce a stringent accreditation process operated by the Commission for Academic Accreditation.

“The system is quite rigorous, and seems to be based on a US low-level college type model,” explains Professor Roy Batchelor, director of the Dubai Executive MBA Program at Cass.

“This does ensure that institutions with no academic credentials cannot set up as higher education centres in the UAE, which is good, but the system does lead to some rigidities.

“For example faculty in general must have a PhD but cannot teach in areas outside their PhD designation. [This means] a professor with an Economics PhD may not be allowed to teach mathematics, although perfectly competent to do so.”

However, as Van Der Spek points out, at just over ten years old, the UAE’s accreditation system is still in its infancy. Therefore, it is difficult to compare it to accreditation systems in many Western countries, where they have been refined over decades, even centuries.

“In most of these developing GCC countries, the rules [for setting up a business school] are still developing,” Van Der Spek says. “They are trying very hard, and the work they are doing is very admirable, but they have not been able to perfect them yet. In countries like the UK, regulatory frameworks have been set up for hundreds of years, and so it’s unfair to compare the two.”

Buyer beware

So, while authorities are striving to ensure that MBA programs in the Middle East provide adequate training for the region’s future business leaders, the advice for business school applicants is to research their options fully.

“My advice to prospective students would be let the buyer beware,” Batchelor advises. “Do your homework. You’re going to a business school, so your first lesson in business is to make sure your investment is going to pay off.”

Many MBA applicants around the globe attend the QS World MBA Tour, which is designed especially for future students to meet with MBA admissions departments, so that they can discuss their options, and find out exactly what an MBA program at a particular school can get them. The tour regularly visits cities across the Middle East to give MBA applicants the opportunity to meet with representatives from globally renowned business schools.