New Delhi / Dubai : In a landmark moment for Indian higher education, IIM Ahmedabad inaugurated its first overseas campus in Dubai, with the ceremony graced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The event marks a major step in India’s mission to globalise its premier educational institutions.
Describing the new campus as a gateway for Indian academic excellence to reach a global audience, Minister Pradhan remarked, “IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus will take the best of India to the world. Dubai today has provided the perfect launchpad to the ethos of ‘Indian in spirit, global in outlook’.”
The initiative is aimed at enhancing international academic collaboration, fostering bilateral research, and strengthening India-UAE cooperation in STEM education and innovation. Pradhan also met UAE Acting Minister of Higher Education Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar to discuss expanding partnerships, joint research initiatives, and academic capacity building.
The Ministry of Education noted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to making knowledge, innovation, and research key pillars of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on people-to-people ties and mutual priorities.
As part of his visit, Pradhan also engaged with leaders from top Indian institutions such as BITS Pilani, Symbiosis, MIT, and Amity at Manipal University Dubai, exploring ways to transform research into market-ready solutions and enhance the global standing of Indian education.
In support of Indian students in the Gulf region, Pradhan met with principals of 109 Indian curriculum schools in the UAE, with additional participation from CBSE school heads across the GCC. He announced the establishment of 12 new Atal Tinkering Labs to promote scientific curiosity and innovation among students.
To cap the visit, Pradhan planted a sapling of the Ghaf tree at the Indian Consulate in Dubai under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign, symbolising the deep-rooted cultural and educational ties between India and the UAE.
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