IIFT to Open Its First Overseas Campus in Dubai

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry today announced that the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will open its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following IIM-Ahmedabad. The program aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s “globalization of Indian higher education” component and its emphasis on internationalization.

Since its establishment in 1963, the institute has had one campus outside of India, in Dubai. Currently, IIFT offers specialized postgraduate and doctoral programs in international business, trade policy, and economics from its two main campuses in Delhi and Kolkata.\

The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have all formally approved the plan to establish a full-fledged abroad center in Dubai.

In addition to its flagship MBA in International Business, IIFT also provides an MA in Economics with a focus on Trade and Finance, Executive Diploma programs for working professionals, and possibilities for doctoral research. Competitive entrance tests, such as the IIFT MBA entrance exam, are the main basis for admission to these courses. Group discussions and in-person interviews are then conducted.

IIFT hopes to reach a larger global audience with the same level of academic rigor and research concentration through the Dubai campus. According to a Ministry release, the new facility is anticipated to serve both international students and the Indian diaspora in the Gulf.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi said in a statement that he is confident the Dubai campus would become a center of excellence in international business education while maintaining IIFT’s academic ideals. He pointed out that the institute’s growth is in line with India’s overarching objective of fusing strategic diplomacy with education.

With full-time and executive education programs designed for the local market characteristics and international business environment, the Dubai campus is anticipated to open soon.