Paul Almeida, dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business: “Business interacts dynamically with policy, international relations, politics, and other fields to shape the economic and social future of countries and individuals”
Georgetown University will expand its international offerings this fall with the launch of a Master’s in International Business and Policy in Dubai, combining resources from its McDonough School of Business and School of Foreign Service.
The program, which begins in September, marks Georgetown’s second academic initiative in the United Arab Emirates, following its Executive MBA offering at the DIFC Academy. The move comes as U.S. and European business schools are deepening their presence in the Gulf to meet growing demand for graduate education in business, finance, diplomacy, and energy.
“This is a program for those who understand that businesses don’t operate in isolation,” says Paul Almeida, McDonough dean and William R. Berkley Chair.
“Business interacts dynamically with policy, international relations, politics, and other fields to shape the economic and social future of countries and individuals. This is why Georgetown’s Master’s in International Business and Policy combines ideas, tools, and expertise in business and international affairs to prepare graduates to lead organizations in a complex and evolving world.”
A SUDDENLY CROWDED REGION
Several leading institutions have expanded into the Middle East in recent years. NYU Stern now offers a full-time MBA program through NYU Abu Dhabi. Hult International Business School has operated a Dubai campus for more than a decade. Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business has offered programs in Dubai since 2009, and Carnegie Mellon University maintains a campus in Doha offering undergraduate business degrees. Georgetown itself already has a presence in the Middle East: Georgetown University in Qatar, based in Doha’s Education City, opened in 2005, offering undergraduate degrees in International Politics, International Economics, Culture and Politics, and International History. The new Dubai program will be the university’s first business program in the region, however.
While U.S. B-schools have only recently begun expanding into the region, European B-schools have long been active in MENA: INSEAD maintains an executive campus in Abu Dhabi, London Business School operates an EMBA program in Dubai, and HEC Paris delivers executive education programs in Qatar. Other B-schools such as ESCP, EDHEC, ESSEC, SKEMA, and Sorbonne Business School have also established presences across the region.
Long-established American institutions in the Middle East also play a major role in shaping business education in the region. The American University in Cairo offers highly regarded MBA, EMBA, and Master of Science in Finance programs through its triple-accredited School of Business. Similarly, the American University of Beirut operates the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, offering undergraduate degrees, an MBA, an Executive MBA, and specialized master’s programs. Both AUC and AUB have served as key hubs for American-style business education in MENA for decades.
A MODULAR FORMAT WITH GLOBAL COMPONENTS
Adapted from Georgetown’s Washington, D.C. program, IBP Dubai will target early- to mid-career professionals across industries. Participants will earn a joint degree from the McDonough School and the School of Foreign Service.
The program’s 10-month structure includes:
- Seven six-day modules (five in Dubai, two global immersions, in Jakarta, Indonesia and Washington, D.C.)
- One online course on finance operations
- A Social Action Project completed over the course of the program
Faculty will be drawn from Georgetown’s campuses in the United States and Qatar, aiming to balance regional expertise with a broader global curriculum. Graduates will also have access to career services from both McDonough and SFS, and join Georgetown’s global alumni network of more than 220,000.
Georgetown McDonough is ranked fourth in the United States for International Business in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report — a slight drop from its second-place ranking in 2024.
A GROWING & COMPETITIVE MARKET
The launch of McDonough’s IBP Dubai comes as Gulf governments continue to invest heavily in education, finance, and innovation initiatives to diversify their economies beyond energy. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, in particular, have been active in attracting branch campuses and partnerships with top universities.
Competition among business schools in the region has intensified. NYU Stern, London Business School, INSEAD, and HEC Paris all offer degree programs designed to serve working professionals and executives based in the Gulf. Georgetown’s entry adds another high-profile option for those seeking American-accredited graduate education without relocating abroad.
Applications for IBP Dubai’s first cohort are now open, with a final deadline of July 14, 2025. According to its brochure, Georgetown seeks candidates with a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of work experience; no specific background in business or policy is required.
For more information, visit georgetowndubai.com/ibp-program.
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