Robert Salomon, dean of Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi, on the launch of a new EMBA: “Our vision is to create a transformative Executive MBA experience that equips experienced professionals with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective to lead with purpose and innovate in an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment”
In a major move expanding its global footprint, the Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of a new Executive MBA program — marking the first EMBA offered by a top-ranked U.S. business school in the UAE and across the broader MENA region.
Applications for the inaugural cohort open today (September 9), with classes beginning in August 2026.
Delivered through NYU Stern’s Abu Dhabi campus, the 23-month, part-time program is tailored for senior professionals seeking to accelerate their leadership trajectory while remaining in the workforce. Graduates will earn an MBA jointly conferred by NYU Stern and NYU Abu Dhabi.
GLOBALLY ANCHORED, REGIONALLY FOCUSED
The new EMBA will draw on NYU Stern’s longstanding academic strength while infusing the program with regional relevance and global exposure. The curriculum includes immersive week-long residencies in New York City and Shanghai, offering participants access to international business ecosystems and cross-cultural insight.
“The launch of the Executive MBA program at Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi underscores our commitment to empowering experienced leaders who will shape the future of business both regionally and globally,” says Fabio Piano, interim vice chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, in a news release accompanying the announcement.
“This milestone strengthens our academic offering and advances NYU Abu Dhabi’s mission as a world-class research university and a catalyst for leadership, innovation, and impact across the UAE and beyond.”
NYU Stern at Abu Dhabi
PART OF A GROWING REGIONAL FOOTPRINT
Students in the new EMBA program will receive in-person instruction from faculty based in Abu Dhabi, including academics and business practitioners with international experience. The curriculum emphasizes practical application, with coursework intended to address challenges executives face in their day-to-day roles.
The program follows the launch of Stern at NYUAD’s one-year MBA for early-career professionals. The addition of the EMBA reflects increasing demand for high-quality executive education across the UAE and Gulf region.
“The rapid growth across the MENA region is creating robust demand for top talent, and Stern at NYUAD is well positioned to help meet that need,” NYU Stern Dean Bharat Anand says in the news release.
“The new Executive MBA offers working professionals a rigorous, flexible program with world-class on-the-ground faculty and strong ties to local corporate networks.”
A PLATFORM FOR REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION
According to Robert Salomon, dean of Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi, the new program reflects the school’s broader mission to serve as a platform for leadership and innovation in the region.
“Our vision is to create a transformative Executive MBA experience that equips experienced professionals with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective to lead with purpose and innovate in an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment,” Salomon says. “The EMBA program exemplifies this vision by fostering a connected, forward-looking community of leaders who will drive meaningful change in their organizations, industries, and economies.”
More information is available at stern.nyuad.nyu.edu.
DON’T MISS HISTORIC: FIRST MBA STUDENTS WELCOMED AT NYU STERN-ABU DHABI and THE CURTAIN IS ABOUT TO RISE ON NYU STERN’S BIG MIDEAST VENTURE: AN ACCELERATED MBA IN ABU DHABI
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