Dean Rob Salomon told The National that the new part-time program addresses a gap in high-quality management education across the MENA region after six years of preparation, with the cohort drawn from leadership roles in finance, consulting, technology, healthcare and government. The 37 participants will continue their careers uninterrupted while attending monthly weekend modules in Abu Dhabi supplemented by week-long global residencies. A Ken Research analysis placed the UAE executive education and upskilling market at USD 1.5 billion, driven by demand for skilled professionals amid economic diversification and government initiatives that have allocated AED 1 billion to lifelong learning under the National Strategy for the Future of Education.
The curriculum balances core technical skills with interpersonal leadership development, recognising that human-centred abilities will increase in value as artificial intelligence reshapes business functions, according to the dean. Students will undertake a signature project applying classroom concepts to real challenges within their own organisations, with the 23-month structure including immersive residencies in New York City and Shanghai. Stern at NYUAD will confer a fully accredited MBA degree jointly with NYU Stern, granting graduates access to an alumni network spanning more than 130 countries.
Postgraduate management education in the UAE has expanded markedly, with MBA enrolments climbing 28 percent from 2020 to 2026 and a clear shift toward flexible part-time formats that allow professionals to upskill without career interruption, a Best-Masters.com sector overview showed. Salomon, who moved to Abu Dhabi three years ago, highlighted the UAE capital’s suitability for the program given its rapid economic diversification into technology, finance and artificial intelligence. The inaugural cohort brings substantial leadership experience across industries, with participants continuing to work full-time throughout the modular schedule.
Applications for the program opened in September 2025 for an August 2026 start, targeting professionals with roughly six to 15 years of experience who seek to accelerate their leadership trajectories while remaining embedded in the local business community. Unlike fly-in faculty models, the Abu Dhabi-based full-time faculty will provide continuous support beyond class sessions, the dean noted in remarks to The National. Regional EMBA enrolment is projected to grow between 6 and 10 percent annually through 2028 as business expansion in Abu Dhabi and Dubai sustains demand for advanced executive training.
The launch extends Stern’s four-decade experience delivering executive MBA programs to the MENA market, adapting global best practices with regionally relevant case studies and specialisations tailored to local economic priorities. Salomon described the students as accomplished leaders from both commercial and public sectors, positioning the program to develop talent that can drive organisational growth and contribute to the UAE’s broader development goals. Further cohorts are expected to build on this foundation as the school monitors uptake and refines offerings based on participant and employer feedback.
