The American University in Dubai, founded in 1995 as a branch of Atlanta's American College, became independently SACSCOC-accredited in 2007 and today enrolls over 2,000 students from more than 100 nationalities. It is based in Dubai Media City and holds separate program-level accreditations for its engineering, business, interior design, and communication schools.
AUD began as a fact-finding initiative in 1991 by Elias Bou Saab of the American College in Atlanta and formally opened as a branch campus in fall 1995 with an initial enrollment of 165 students, before becoming a fully independent institution. In December 2007 it became the only institution outside the United States and Latin America to hold independent accreditation from SACSCOC at that time, a status the university still highlights in its accreditation record. Its physical location inside Dubai Media City places its communication and media programs directly within a working cluster of regional advertising and media companies rather than a conventional academic district.
Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Interior Design | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Communication and Media Studies | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Engineering | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Architecture | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |