The United Arab Emirates has undergone major modernization in the past few years. With economic growth and a younger population, there is increased interest in and spending on higher education throughout the region. With a significant flood of young people likely to enter the job market in the coming years, now may be the best time to make a mark with an MBA in the Middle East and surrounding countries.

MBA programs have become a must for a successful professional career, and the Middle East is a vibrant market that allows professionals from all over the world to get a direct business education and training. The aim is to develop a new generation of business executives capable of boosting the region’s economy to new heights. Individuals may choose from a variety of MBA programs that will assist them in the near and far future.

It may take time and patience to identify top-rated online MBA providers. To save you time and provide you with the latest details, we have compiled a list of the 8 best-performing online business schools or B-Schools in the UAE.

1. Manchester Middle East Centre:

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre is among the six overseas centres of the University of Manchester, UK. The Global Executive MBA is ideal for working professionals and young learners looking for experiential learning to gain business acumen for new business challenges. Triple Accredited with AASCB, EQUIS, and AMBA, the program focuses to highlight economic, societal and cultural challenges in the emerging global business environment. The program is offered through blended learning which comprises participative online sessions and global residential sessions conducted by renowned business experts and practitioners to focus on real business problems and provide an opportunity to network, socialise and make connections to transform your career.

2. Heriot-Watt University Dubai :

Heriot-Watt University Dubai is among the first overseas universities to set up a campus in UAE. The University offers a flexible Online MBA that allows students to choose modules of their choice and set term dates to suit their schedule. The online MBA covers key management disciplines, including economics, financial decision-making, leadership, marketing, people skills, project management and strategy. The University also offer intercampus sharing of students to its other campus in the UK and Malaysia. In addition to the course material, the virtual learning environment makes available videos, webinars, articles, journals, assessments and discussion boards.

3. The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD:

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is the first Australian university to make a presence in the UAE. UOWD offers an MBA for experienced professionals delivered over 3 weekends each trimester. The MBA is designed to cover three distinct stages of learning: Diagnostics, Exploration and Integration and Application. During the program, students learn to diagnose issues in real organisations and explore the latest practices in organizations while developing skills in innovation and business transformation. The program claims to develop strategic decision-making and personal effectiveness skills by undertaking real-world business projects.

4. Murdoch University Dubai:

Established in 2007, Murdoch University Dubai is a branch campus of Murdoch University Perth, Western Australia. The Dubai campus offers a 3 trimesters full-time/part-time MBA which includes four flagship units and two business competency units. The flagship units are based on Business Context, Leadership and Strategy, while the business competencies cover essential finance and accounting skills that are needed for key decision-making. Through this MBA the University aims to enhance its professional skill set and culture of innovative ideas at work. The business disciplines covered in the program cover global themes and challenges to equip learners to gain a competitive edge in the changing corporate environment.

5. INSEAD:

INSEAD is one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools and offers students a truly global educational experience. Apart from being present in the UAE, the school has campuses in France, Singapore and San Francisco. INSEAD offers a modular Global Executive MBA programme (GEMBA) at all its international campuses. The program is an intensive 14-to-17-month approach to pave way for business learners to top careers in the industry. The GEMBA approach develops effective, intelligent leaders and entrepreneurs while amalgamating the latest business trends, equipping the participants for a successful career.

6. Westford University College:

Westford University College is a reputable and trusted executive educational college which provides flexible learning programs for both regular students and working professionals alike. Westford is affiliated with some best-known academic partners from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Europe. The academic programs and teaching methodology at Westford are designed to add to the academia by synthesizing it with industry experience. Westford provides a wide variety of generic and specialised MBAs to suit the interests of young learners as well as for the professional growth of the more experienced business leaders.

7. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE):

The MBA program offered by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai aims to learnings in basic economics, accounting, communication, and analytical and information technology skills. The 2 years duration program provides opportunities to develop resource and people management skills for students and experienced organisation leaders and creates awareness of the global business and governmental environment in which businesses operate. The program seeks to develop knowledge and skills in various business functions such as marketing, finance, operations, information, healthcare and human resources management to enable students to apply such skills and knowledge acquired in the program to solve real-life business problems.

8. SP Jain School of Global Management:

SP Jain School of Global Management, an Australian business school has a presence across Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney. The Dubai campus which is situated in Dubai Academic Cityoffers multi-city undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The Global MBA (GMBA)program is a 12-month full-time program which helps develop critical thinking, decision-making, effective communication, and entrepreneurship skills crucial for career growth in a challenging business environment. The program works on a flexible approach to learning and can be customised to individual career goals. Students can choose what to study and pick electives across different areas or specialise in any one functional area of management.

*The blog is based on a short survey conducted by students at Westford University College.