Dubai: More UK, European students choose to study in the city
According to a faculty member from a top global business school students from all over the world and particularly from the UK and Europe are increasingly opting for Dubai for their educational and career advancement.
According to specialists executive MBA programmes become an attractive career advancement tool for professionals who face challenges during their mid-career stage. Many professionals have chosen Dubai as their place of residence and work because institutions like London Business School provide hybrid study options for certain programs in the city.
Ben Hardy, academic director, leadership programmes and clinical professor of organisational behaviour at London Business School, said: Both our September and January EMBA programme intakes in Dubai demonstrate strong demand with the September cohort showing an increase from previous years and the January group maintaining numbers similar to the preceding year.
Candidates clearly understand why London Business School stands out as their preferred educational choice. The School delivers a world-class programme that stands out for its outstanding teaching quality. London and Dubai campus locations provide perfect environments for both living and studying while constructing a global career path. The community which includes active students as well as our alumni members receives recognition for being global in reach while remaining diverse and highly welcoming and engaging," he added.
According to Hardy 46 per cent of students at their institution were Middle Eastern nationals over the last year and 75 per cent of their student population was based in the Middle East with most living in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Students who studied in Dubai but lived in other locations during the last year came from the UK, Turkey, India and Azerbaijan.
The Dubai campus of our university annually hosts approximately 100 students enrolled in the EMBA programme. The program draws students born and living in the Middle East along with those from distant locations who reside in the region and participants who travel to Dubai from other regions for the program.
Hardy announced that over 80 Middle Eastern students will join our new Smart EMBA programme and most will select the September and January Dubai-based sessions. The January 2026 programme's combination of in-person and online learning options may influence student preferences for study locations differently than in previous years. The new program structure may motivate students situated in the UK or Europe to opt for studying in Dubai. We predict increased interest from Middle Eastern students who want to pursue studies at our London campus.
Building networks
He highlighted that students appreciate their chances to develop networks while learning collaboratively with peers.
The new degree structure ensures that students attend face-to-face sessions for 40 percent of core courses alongside their peers. Students who select from more than 100 available electives will find chances to network and become part of the broader LBS community.
Hardy pointed out that mid-career represents a challenging period in professional life as individuals work to manage job responsibilities along with family commitments while pursuing ongoing education.
Work responsibilities along with family commitments and ongoing educational demands pull you in multiple directions. Education serves as the foundation for future success but the rapid transformation currently occurring in the GCC could leave the world changing faster than individuals can keep up.
Continuous learning presents challenges yet remains achievable. Feedback from numerous alumni shows that while some phases feel overwhelming, you can make it through. To maintain balance in life Hardy explained that you must consistently make progress on your work.
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