Dubai Investments PJSC [DFM: DIC], the leading, diversified investment company listed on the Dubai Financial Market, has announced that the University of Balamand in Dubai [UOBD], its wholly-owned subsidiary, is set to open its first UAE campus in Dubai Investments Park [DIP] in September 2018.
The UOBD is the first university in DIP, which has seven schools offering a wide array of international curricula. The UOBD campus at DI House – DIP is spread across approximately 75,000 square feet. This is the first campus of University of Balamand outside Lebanon, where it operates five campuses. Admissions for September 2018 intake are under way.
The UOBD is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education [MOE]. With a strong focus on Engineering and Science streams, UOBD will offer undergraduate programs in Bachelor of Science [B.S.] in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. All these programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation [CAA], a government-run institutional licensure and degree accreditation department of MOE.
UOBD intends to offer Bachelor of Arts [B.A.] in English Language and Literature and Professional Teaching Diploma, upon their review and accreditation by CAA at MOE. All degrees are based on the American model of higher education.
Khalid Bin Kalban, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Investments, said: “Driven by the UAE government’s emphasis on the higher education sector and a knowledge-based economy, the private sector higher education segment in the country is growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8%. Dubai Investments is committed to play a strong role in facilitating this knowledge-sharing. Bringing the University of Balamand in Dubai is part of this strategy.”
He added: “There is huge demand for such world-class universities among the Emiratis and Arab youth, with nearly 80% of Emiratis and Arabs prefer enrolment in local universities. Dubai Investments is confident that the new University of Balamand in Dubai campus will add a lot of value to the higher education sphere in the UAE and GCC.”
Dr Walid Moubayed, CEO and Vice-Chancellor of University of Balamand in Dubai, said: “The University of Balamand – Lebanon has a strong legacy of offering holistic education to equip the future generations for the competitive world. The UOBD is thrilled to bring this expertise to the UAE and GCC through its comprehensive academic programs.”
Founded in 1988, the University of Balamand is a private, independent educational institution of higher education with over 5,700 students in its rolls across its five campuses in Lebanon, which provide 70 undergraduate majors, 55 graduate majors and six post-graduate programs.
