India is preparing to expand its top-tier educational institutions to the United Arab Emirates, with new campuses of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) planned in Dubai. The announcement was made by India’s Minister of Industry and Supply, Piyush Goyal, during a media briefing. According to Goyal, these developments highlight the strengthening ties between India and the UAE, particularly in the field of education and knowledge exchange.
IIM’s Global Standing and Alumni Network
The IIMs are among India’s most prestigious business schools, with 21 campuses across the country. Many of these institutions regularly appear in global rankings of top 100 business schools. Over the years, IIMs have produced influential leaders in various sectors, including Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, and Raghuram Rajan, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Their international reputation makes the IIM brand highly valuable and sought-after beyond Indian borders.
IIFT’s Established Legacy
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, founded in 1963 and headquartered in New Delhi, is known for its specialised focus on international business and trade. As a public business school, IIFT plays a key role in developing professionals for India’s global trade sector. Its planned expansion into Dubai is expected to offer students in the region access to high-quality trade and business education rooted in Indian expertise.
Details Awaited
The government has not yet revealed the exact locations or timelines for the launch of these campuses. Additional details are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Part of a Broader Trend
This announcement follows the recent launch of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Abu Dhabi. The IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi branch began offering bachelor’s programmes in computer science and energy engineering for the 2024–2025 academic year, signaling a broader trend of Indian institutes establishing a presence in the UAE.
