A Decade of Global Impact
Dubai Business Associates (DBA) celebrated its 10th anniversary under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The programme has transformed 278 graduates from 44 countries into global ambassadors for Dubai. With a competitive 0.5% acceptance rate, DBA has become a beacon for aspiring leaders worldwide.
As part of the celebrations, Sheikh Mohammed met with alumni of the programme and said that
“investing in human capital is essential to building a creative, innovation-driven economy, with the goal of empowering future entrepreneurs to transform ideas into impactful projects that address future challenges and benefit society.”
He expressed his delight in meeting graduates from the UAE and around the world, encouraging them to harness the knowledge and entrepreneurial skills they acquired to shape a future built on knowledge, driven by innovation, and dedicated to improving quality of life.
Celebratory Event at One&Only One Za’abeel
The milestone was commemorated at the iconic One&Only One Za’abeel. The event welcomed UAE leaders, government officials, diplomats, executives, and over 100 DBA alumni. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed met with graduates, emphasising the importance of investing in human capital to foster innovation and societal benefit.
Recognising Partners and Contributions
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presented Partner Appreciation Awards to key organisations. Learning Partners honoured included PwC Academy, Capadev, and Bon Education. Strategic Partners recognised were Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), dnata, and Emirates.
Programme Achievements
- 84 strategic projects delivered, saving $27 million in consulting fees.
- Over 140 work placements completed with 30+ leading Dubai companies.
- 30% of applicants hail from QS Top 10 global universities.
The nine-month programme combines academic learning, business placements, industry networking, coaching, and cultural immersion. The latest cohort includes 36 participants from 22 countries, featuring nine Emiratis.
Alumni Success Stories
CNN anchor Becky Anderson hosted a panel with five DBA alumni:
- Majed Bin Thaneya: Youth Leadership Council Member & Talent Partner, Emirates (UAE)
- Raymond Zhu: CEO, Dhow Holding (China)
- Jodi Cullity: Founder, Eleveno (USA)
- Ksenia Trubacheva: Business Analyst, McKinsey (Russia)
- Mahrukh Shahid: Managing Partner, Globesight (Pakistan)
Alumni Voices: How DBA Shapes Global Careers
Jodi Cullity (USA)
A DBA alumna and founder of ELEVENO Pickleball, Jodi is also an Advance Associate at The White House. Her experience in the programme included working with Expo 2020 Dubai and PwC Middle East.
“DBA provided an optimal balance of hands-on, professional business experience with innovative learning modules that gave me the foundation to succeed in my professional career. I couldn’t recommend it enough to aspiring global graduates.”
“And Dubai really is the perfect environment to undertake such a programme. It’s a dynamic and forward-thinking city, with unrivalled networking opportunities with like-minded, ambitious individuals.”
Leya Ali (UK)
Now leading M&A Business Development at dnata, Leya studied at Cambridge and Goldsmiths. She described the cultural diversity of her cohort as a core strength.
“The overall DBA experience has not just been about the hard and soft skills you learn in relation to all things ‘professional’ and ‘work’. We were a cohort consisting of almost 20 nationalities, with entirely varied backgrounds and past experiences where there was so much openness about learning each other’s culture, religion and stories.”
“DBA really is the place for learning and if you have the quench to study and work really hard in order to grow your skills, experience and business acumen during a small timescale, DBA is for you.”
Raymond Zhu (China)
Founder and CEO of Dhow Holding and ZENO, Raymond credits his success to his DBA experience. He worked on pioneering initiatives such as MENA’s first live shopping platform and blockchain policy modelling at the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Dubai Business Associates is truly a unique programme for entrepreneurs. I was fortune enough to work on major consulting projects including the largest tech incubator in the Middle East, and on the initial model of the first Global Blockchain Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.”
“I couldn’t recommend the course highly enough. DBA and its key learning and professional partners continue to remain at the cutting edge of graduate education, which is greatly enhanced by its cultural components.”
Dubai Business Associates: Powering the Next Generation
Director Rami Tawfiq outlined future plans for DBA. The programme aims to scale into 200 markets, expand industry partnerships, and keep evolving its hands-on professional model to meet global challenges.
“This 10-year milestone is just the beginning. We’re more committed than ever to building a new generation of global leaders.”
With a proven track record and international alumni network, Dubai Business Associates continues to serve as a bridge between university education and real-world leadership. As Dubai champions innovation and enterprise, DBA remains at the forefront of elite professional development.
For more information, visit Dubai Business Associates or follow them on Instagram.
About the Dubai Business Associates programme:
Run under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Business Associate programme offers outstanding and ambitious graduates from all around the world an unrivalled opportunity to study and work in Dubai, with a dynamic and multicultural hub for global commerce, to develop as future global leaders. Through a practical, project-based learning approach, Dubai Business Associates facilitates the transition from talented young graduates to future global leaders with highly sought-after skills, thereby serving as a bridge between university and the world of work. To know more about the Dubai Business Associates programme please visit the link below.