IIM Ahmedabad Opens Its First Overseas Campus in Dubai

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has taken a significant step towards global expansion by establishing its first international campus in Dubai. Following the footsteps of premier Indian institutions such as IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, IIM Ahmedabad’s new venture marks a major milestone in extending India’s higher education footprint beyond its borders.

 

The Dubai campus was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in a high-profile ceremony attended by India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking at the event, Pradhan described the move as a “giant leap in the internationalisation of Indian education” and emphasized that the new campus would play a crucial role in delivering world-class management education to a global audience.

 

Expanding the Global Reach of Indian Education

The establishment of the Dubai campus is expected to serve as a gateway for Indian educational excellence to reach students from around the world. Education Minister Pradhan, during his visit to the United Arab Emirates, also toured the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi and met with leaders of five major Indian higher education institutions with campuses in the region — including BITS Pilani, Manipal University, and Amity University.

 

Officials believe the presence of IIM Ahmedabad in Dubai will enhance India’s global academic standing and create new opportunities for collaboration, research, and cross-border knowledge exchange. It is also expected to cater to the growing demand for management education among students from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

 

CBSE to Transition Towards an International Curriculum

In a related development, Education Minister Pradhan announced that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is preparing to transform itself into an international board to meet the growing global demand for Indian-style education. CBSE-affiliated schools are already operating in numerous countries, including the UAE, where over 100 CBSE schools are currently active.

 

The minister highlighted that the demand for CBSE schools abroad is steadily increasing and that aligning the curriculum with international standards will strengthen India’s educational influence worldwide.