Dubai, UAE – The Dubai Business Associates (DBA) programme, a prestigious graduate management education initiative under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, hosted its ninth graduation ceremony today at the Emirates Group Headquarters.
The fully-funded DBA programme provides talented young professionals from around the world with the opportunity to develop their skills in strategy, business, and leadership. This year’s cohort comprised 36 associates from 20 countries, selected from over 12,500 applicants.
Since September 2023, the associates have undergone a comprehensive, experiential, and project-based learning approach in collaboration with esteemed partners such as PwC Academy Middle East, CAPADEV, and Bon Education. Alongside classroom learning, they gained real-world experience by delivering consulting projects for leading Dubai organizations like Emirates Airline, dnata, DIFC, Expo City Dubai, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Future Foundation, and Falcon and Associates.
During the ceremony, several special awards were presented to outstanding individuals for their exceptional performance, leadership potential, and contributions to the learning environment. Notable recipients included Maha Alshehhi (Emirati Award), Majed Bin Thaneya (Falcon Award), Leya Ali (Faculty Award), Varika Pinnam (Best Fellow), and Faris Hasan (Erin Langlards Award). Emirates Airline and Expo City Dubai were also honored for their support and partnership with the programme.
James Maughan, Director of Dubai Business Associates, expressed pride in the programme’s continued success and its role in nurturing talent and fostering innovation in Dubai’s dynamic business landscape.
With applications received from 166 countries for its tenth year, commencing in September 2024, the DBA programme eagerly anticipates welcoming the next cohort of talented graduates seeking to launch their careers from Dubai.