India - UAE partnership and AI take center stage at Pan IIM Alumni Forum in Dubai
Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir and H.E. Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC) highlighted how India-UAE collaboration is driving innovation and economic growth in the region.
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, shared his personal journey, reflecting on how IIMA shaped his career and drawing parallels between sports and business success.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The Pan IIM Alumni Network – Middle East Chapter successfully hosted its seminal event, Human Capital in the Age of AI Economy, bringing together leading voices from government, business, and academia. Senior diplomats, industry leaders, and thought pioneers convened to discuss the evolving landscape of talent, innovation, and management education in today's rapidly digitalizing world.
The Pan IIM Alumni Network represents over 2000 MBA alumni of the elite Indian Institutes of Management, including leaders in business, startups, philanthropic organizations, and government. The event was co-sponsored by Emirates NBD and the IIMA Endowment Fund.
Moderated by Chhavi Moodgal, Founding CEO at the IIM Ahmedabad Endowment Fund, the forum featured three engaging panels that addressed critical themes shaping the future of work and education in the India-UAE corridor and beyond.
The opening keynote was led by Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, and H.E. Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Their addresses centered on the strengthening strategic partnership between India and the UAE, emphasizing talent development as a cornerstone of this collaboration.
Ambassador Sudhir remarked, 'The inauguration of IIM Ahmedabad's first international campus in Dubai is a landmark moment that exemplifies the deep and enduring partnership between India and the UAE. This initiative not only strengthens educational ties but also fosters innovation and talent development across our two nations. I am confident that IIMA's presence here will inspire a new generation of leaders who will contribute significantly to the region's economic and social progress.'
Echoing this sentiment, Hadi Badri remarked, 'Dubai's vision to become a global hub for talent and innovation aligns perfectly with IIM Ahmedabad's legacy of academic excellence and leadership development. The establishment of IIMA's Dubai campus is a testament to the strong bilateral collaboration between Dubai and India. We look forward to supporting this partnership as it nurtures future-ready professionals who will drive sustainable growth in the UAE and beyond.'
The second panel, 'The Future of Work,' delved into how artificial intelligence and digital transformation are fundamentally reshaping business models, workforce dynamics, and organizational strategies. Panelists examined the urgent need for upskilling and lifelong learning to ensure that human capital remains relevant and competitive in an AI-driven global economy. The role of leadership in this evolving landscape was highlighted by the panellists.
The forum concluded with Harsha Bhogle sharing how his time at IIM Ahmedabad built his resilience and survivor mindset. He reflected on his cricket commentary career and connected lessons from sports to business, ending with an engaging rapid-fire session. Harsha also spoke about the importance of giving back to your alma mater, encouraging fellow alumni to contribute to the legacy of institutions that shaped them.
The forum coincided with the exciting phase of IIM Ahmedabad's preparation to launch its first international campus in Dubai in September 2025. This marks a historic milestone as the first overseas campus for any Indian Institute of Management. The campus will offer a full-time, one-year MBA program tailored for global professionals and entrepreneurs, with admissions opening shortly. Initially operating from Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the campus will transition to a permanent facility by 2029.
The choice of Dubai is strategic, given its vibrant business landscape, large Indian diaspora, and commitment to innovation, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and India's National Education Policy 2020. The campus is expected to deepen educational and economic ties between the two countries and create a thriving hub for talent and leadership development.
About IIM Ahmedabad Dubai:
IIM Ahmedabad Dubai is the first international branch of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), India's top-ranked business school. Established in partnership with the Government of Dubai, IIM Ahmedabad Dubai brings world-class management education to the Middle East, offering a full-time, one-year MBA program tailored for working professionals and entrepreneurs. The institute combines IIMA's renowned academic rigor, research excellence, and case-based pedagogy with a regional focus on innovation and leadership development. Operating initially from Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), IIM Ahmedabad Dubai will expand to a permanent, state-of-the-art facility by 2029, strengthening educational and economic ties between India and the UAE and supporting Dubai's vision to become a global hub for talent and knowledge.
About IIM Ahmedabad:
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), established in 1961, is India's premier management institute and is consistently ranked among the world's top business schools. Renowned for its academic excellence, pioneering research, and influential alumni network, IIMA offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including MBA, doctoral, and executive education. IIMA's commitment to leadership, innovation, and societal impact has made it a benchmark in management education globally.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
29 minutes ago
- Zawya
The transformative power of AI to create jobs in Africa
Mastercard's latest whitepaper, Harnessing the transformative power of AI in Africa, demonstrates AI's potential to drive financial inclusion, job creation and innovation as it highlights how Africa's unique demographics, mobile-first infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit position it as an active architect of the future. The whitepaper is a pan-African study of the continent's readiness, opportunity and roadmap for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. It provides detailed insights into how AI—if deployed responsibly and inclusively—can unlock transformative outcomes across the continent's major industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, energy and finance. The whitepaper outlines the potential positive impact of AI on digital infrastructure, policy and governance, research and development, local language processing and investment into Africa. It also explores how AI can accelerate job creation, with up to 230 million digital jobs projected by 2030, and increase access to formal finance through AI-enabled credit scoring and fraud prevention. Reshaping lives With Africa's AI market projected to grow from $4.5bn in 2025 to $16.5bn by 2030, according to a recent report from Statista, the paper presents a clear case for multi-stakeholder collaboration and investment. Mark Elliott, division president, Africa at Mastercard, comments that Africa's engagement with AI is already reshaping lives — not just in labs, but in farms, clinics and classrooms. 'To unlock its full potential, we need investment in infrastructure, data, talent, and policy. At Mastercard, we believe responsible, locally rooted AI can drive inclusive growth and connect more people to opportunity.' Greg Ulrich, chief AI and data officer, Mastercard, adds, 'AI is only as powerful as the trust behind it. At Mastercard, we're committed to building AI that's responsible, inclusive, and built to bring value to our customers, partners and employees. 'This isn't just innovation—it's innovation with integrity.' Regional highlights Regional highlights covered in the whitepaper include: - South Africa South Africa attracted $610m in AI-focused venture capital in 2023, with total AI investment expected to reach $3.7bn by 2030. With the highest data and infrastructure readiness in Africa, the country is solidifying its role as a continental leader in AI research and application. It is home to the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Afri,ca which serves as a gateway for students and professionals to access world-class education, research and industry news. National plans aim to develop up to 300 AI start-ups and train 5,000 AI professionals by 2030, creating the foundation for a vibrant, homegrown AI ecosystem. - Kenya An emerging leader in AI innovation, Kenya has leveraged its 'Silicon Savannah' status to securely deploy AI across sectors. Platforms like Tala use mobile data for credit scoring, while Jacaranda Health's UlizaLlama, an AI-powered chatbot, provides maternal health support in five local languages. The newly launched National AI Strategy (2025–2030) outlines the government's commitment to positioning Kenya as a regional leader in AI research and development, innovation and commercialisation for socioeconomic development. - Nigeria Nigeria ranks second in the number of AI startups in Africa and secured $218m in VC investment in 2023. As one of Africa's most dynamic AI ecosystems, Nigeria is using AI to personalise learning (Rising Academies), deliver microfinance via and strengthen governance with AI tools that monitor public fund allocation. With a $1.4bn projected AI market size by 2025, the government's proactive approach, combined with growing private-sector innovation, suggests promising growth in AI applications. - Morocco An emerging AI hub in North Africa, Morocco is advancing AI adoption across healthcare, energy, agriculture, and finance. Institutions such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and DeepEcho are driving local innovation, while the MoroccoAI Annual Conference is shaping national dialogue on the future of AI. Under its Digital 2030 strategy, Morocco aims to attract $ 1.1bn in investment and create 240,000 digital jobs by 2030. Despite this progress, the whitepaper warns that data fragmentation, language exclusion and regulatory inconsistency could deepen the digital divide. Unlocking AI's full impact Harnessing the potential of AI in Africa will be instrumental in accelerating financial inclusion and driving the continent's digital and economic growth. Strategic collaborations between governments, fintechs, and global partners will be key to unlocking AI's full impact. Mastercard's whitepaper draws on insights from leading African technologists, policymakers, academics and entrepreneurs, including interviews with UnescO, the African Center for Economic Transformation, and fintech leaders across the region. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
29 minutes ago
- Zawya
Addleshaw Goddard advises Al Waha Land LLC on AED 530mln disposal of AlMarkaz Industrial Park assets to Aldar
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has advised Al Waha Land LLC (Waha Land), a wholly owned subsidiary of Waha Capital, on the recent AED 530 million disposal of integrated logistics assets, with a total net leasable area of 182,500 sqm, at the 6 million sqm AlMarkaz Industrial Park, Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi. The transaction, which was completed by Aldar on 30 June 2025, marks a significant milestone in the UAE's real estate and logistics sectors. Developed by Waha Land and enjoying special economic zone status, AlMarkaz Industrial Park is located in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region. The property benefits from near-full occupancy and a diverse mix of international, regional, and government-related tenants. With further development potential at AlMarkaz, the transaction presents an opportunity for Aldar and Waha to explore future collaboration at the site. Owen Richards, Partner – Corporate Finance at Addleshaw Goddard, commented: 'We are delighted to have supported Waha Capital on this landmark transaction. The sale of AlMarkaz Industrial Park assets reflects the strength and scalability of the UAE's logistics and industrial sectors, which continue to attract significant investment amid the region's economic diversification efforts. This deal underscores our expertise in advising on high-value, complex transactions in the real estate and logistics sectors across the Middle East.' The transaction highlights the growing importance of the logistics and industrial real estate sector in the Middle East, as regional economies prioritise infrastructure development and supply chain resilience. The UAE has emerged as a hub for logistics innovation, with its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly environment driving demand for high-quality industrial assets. The Addleshaw Goddard team advising on the transaction was led by Owen Richards, supported by Rachael Norris, James Whittam, Ryan Shanley (UAE Corporate), Heather Gibson (Tax), Jeremy Scott, Edward Foster (Real Estate), and Philip Chalmers and Maral Nafar (Banking). This transaction further reinforces Addleshaw Goddard's position as a trusted advisor on high-profile real estate and logistics deals across the MENA region, reflecting the firm's focus on delivering exceptional legal expertise and strategic insights to its clients. About Addleshaw Goddard Addleshaw Goddard is a global law firm with 2,800+ partners and employees across our 21 offices spanning key commercial centres around the world. Six in the UK – London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen; eight in Europe – four in Germany and one in Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain; a further five in the GCC – Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Muscat; and one in Asia – Singapore. We have over 450 Partners and nearly 2,000 lawyers and fee-earners worldwide. In the Middle East we have 27 Partners and close to 100 other fee earners. For more information, please contact: Gambit Communications Suzana Saoud Senior Account Manager +971 56 7155 470 suzana@
Zawya
29 minutes ago
- Zawya
Qatar's infrastructure market poised for growth spurred by policy support, investment incentives
Doha, Qatar: Qatar's infrastructure sector is poised for robust expansion over the next five years, driven by government capital spending, strategic economic diversification, and ambitious energy and transportation upgrades. According to Mordor Intelligence, the infrastructure market for construction works across diverse sectors is valued at $33.40bn (QR121.59bn) in 2025 and is projected to reach $41.30bn (QR150.35bn) by 2030, expanding at a 4.30 percent CAGR. The data highlights that the sustained expansion rests on the Third National Development Strategy's mandate to diversify the economy, the $22.2bn five-year capital plan from the Public Works Authority, and the country's rapid digital-infrastructure rollout that has already delivered median 5G download speeds above 520 Mbps. Speaking to The Peninsula, Neil Wilson, Managing Director at The Sovereign Group, said: 'Currently, several sectors in Qatar stand out as highly attractive for foreign investors. Infrastructure and construction remain strong due to ongoing development projects and preparations for future events.' On the other hand, the report highlights the transportation infrastructure as a dominant focus. Seven new expressways, metro extensions, and capacity enhancements at Hamad Port are designed to transform Qatar into a pivotal logistics hub for the Gulf region. Parallel to this, the North Field LNG expansion that boosts output from 77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 142 MTPA is channelling multibillion-dollar EPC contracts into marine facilities, processing complexes, and export terminals. 'The energy sector, particularly renewable energy and natural gas, continues to offer significant opportunities as Qatar diversifies its energy portfolio. Finance and banking are also growing rapidly, supported by regulatory reforms and Qatar's role as a regional financial hub. Additionally, technology and innovation sectors, including digital services and smart city initiatives, are gaining momentum as the country invests heavily in modernisation,' the analyst explained. The data indicates that private-sector participation is rising sharply, enabled by 100 percent foreign-ownership rules, signalling greater public-private collaboration across major projects. Meanwhile, environmental priorities are also shaping the market, as tightening green-building codes open opportunities in renovation and retrofitting for contractors offering low-carbon solutions. The market expert noted that the biggest drivers attracting foreign investors include the $1bn incentive programme, which was launched in 2025, offering up to 40 percent support on setup, leasing, staffing, and equipment costs for companies in strategic sectors. Wilson also pointed out that the full-foreign ownership law enables investors to completely own businesses in most sectors, with streamlined approval processes, a low tax rate, and the right to repatriate profits and capital. Additionally, QFC, QFZ, and QSTP offer full ownership, tax exemptions, customs waivers, and sector-specific legal and infrastructure support. 'These policies have created a highly competitive, transparent, and investor-friendly environment that's driving record levels of foreign business registrations,' he said. Wilson further added, 'Tourism and hospitality are emerging sectors as Qatar promotes itself as a global destination, creating new opportunities for foreign investment. Overall, these sectors align well with Qatar's National Vision 2030 goals and offer promising prospects for investors.' As Qatar advances towards its 2030 economic vision, the infrastructure sector's trajectory underscores the nation's dual focus on physical connectivity and economic openness redefining its role in the regional and global economy. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
