Dubai: the new business school hub for international students
Pakistanis already know that if they want to start a business, Dubai is the place to be, in terms of free zones, tax benefits, access to other regional markets like Saudi Arabia, and the immense networking opportunities.
Now experts are saying this journey could start as early as the undergraduate degree stage.
Dubai is the place to be 'if you want an entrepreneurial career or a career that has anything to do with tech or innovation,' said Martin Boehm, Executive Vice President and Global Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Hult International Business School, which has campuses around the world and is known for its experiential approach to business education.
Education expo in Dubai puts Pakistani universities on global map
The emirate 'is becoming more global and an increasingly attractive hub for international students to pursue undergraduate studies,' Boehm told Business Recorder in an exclusive chat.
Just last month, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority said there has been a 29% increase in the number of international students for the 2024-25 academic year compared to the year prior.
A total of 42,026 students are enrolled at 41 private higher education institutions – the highest number to date. Of these, 37 are international campuses. Boehm believes this is because Dubai is seen as a tech and business hub ripe with opportunities.
'Dubai is very flexible if you want to start your own business or secure job opportunities. It is quite straightforward to secure necessary work permits, especially if you're already in the country, which obviously would be the case for students.'
Ease of getting visas is a crucial aspect of attracting international students, especially as it is getting harder to do so in countries like the US. 'While visa regulation has not changed yet, the entire rhetoric in the market is that the US has become less welcoming for international students,' he noted.
What's more, it is not only possible to find opportunities in the Middle East, but Dubai is also fast becoming a gateway to Africa, said Boehm.
Until now, Hult in Dubai was catering only to postgraduate students, but it will be launching its undergraduate degree in September.
Explaining what makes Hult's degree stand out, Boehm said not only are internships embedded into the program, most of Hult's faculty are accomplished senior executives 'with one foot in the corporate world.'
'So it might well be that in the morning, they're in the boardroom discussing actual challenges with their staff and colleagues, and then in the afternoon they pose a very similar challenge to our students.'
Hult believes students learn by being exposed to real-world problems. It partners with companies to challenge students, who get the chance to present their solutions to them.
Hult has worked with big names like Dolce & Gabbana, Ferrari and Unilever, and is looking to partner with consulting firm Accenture. Locally, it has worked with Dubai's port authorities.
He added that if students are at a university that does not directly put them in touch with businesses, then they should 'make sure they reach out to the corporate world as soon and as much as possible in order to establish a network, and learn as early as possible what it means to work in business firsthand.'
Hult also offers semesters abroad at its Boston, London, San Francisco and New York campuses and has 'rotation centers' Shanghai and Singapore for summer programs.
The wrong perception
While Dubai has international campuses of many reputable universities - the UK's University of Birmingham and Middlesex, and Australia's University of Birmingham - there is often a perception that it is the less academically inclined that attend college in the emirate.
However, this is a myth that needs to be busted, according to Boehm.
'For us, the same admissions criteria apply independent of which location you're applying to. There's no question about that. With most of our key competitors, it's exactly the same.'
According to him, this perception may have arisen because some universities 'had to be a little bit more pushy or generous with respect to financial aid in order to attract students to study' at first.
However, he believes this is no longer the case as the campuses in Dubai are now thriving. And the government is playing its part too, with a 'more rigorous assessment process by the Ministry of Education in order to make sure that all institutions are meeting the same standards'.
An 'excellent option for Pakistanis'
Business Recorder also spoke to Eileen McAuliffe, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of EMEA at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
She believes Dubai is an excellent option for students from Pakistan who are seeking globally recognized business education.
Echoing Boehm's thoughts, she said Dubai's strategic location as a hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe provides 'unparalleled access to global networks and career opportunities.'
According to her, many business schools offer programs tailored to the region's economic context while maintaining international standards. On top of this, cultural familiarity and geographic proximity can make for a smoother transition.
She also said that the rise of the digital economy is influencing how business education is delivered and structured in the UAE: Schools are emphasizing digital literacy, e-commerce, fintech, and digital entrepreneurship to ensure students can thrive in a tech-driven global marketplace.
When asked what Pakistani business schools can learn from Dubai, she said they can 'draw lessons in balancing global aspirations with local realities' by fostering partnerships with international universities, pursuing dual-degree programs, and expanding faculty exchange initiatives, while ensuring curricula reflect the socio-economic needs of Pakistan's diverse population.
'Dubai's success is partly due to close alignment between business schools and the UAE's national vision. Pakistani business schools can increase their influence by aligning more proactively with national development agendas such as Vision 2025, the Digital Pakistan initiative, and regional economic corridors,' she said.
'Business education should not only respond to market demand — it must help shape the future economy.'
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Budget to spell doom for IT industry: P@SHA
KARACHI: Outrightly rejecting the budget 2025-26, IT industry said budget has fatally ignored Pakistan's IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) sector, terming disappointment and grave threat to the sector. In a statement, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said budget is decisive blow to an industry that has carried the hopes of export-led recovery; youth employment and digital transformation. It said an industry that today employs over 600,000 young Pakistanis—one of the country's largest and most vital pools of skilled talent. Yet in a stunning act of neglect, the budget fails to address two urgent and long-standing demands from the sector: first, a defined and fair taxation framework for remote workers; and second, the continuation—and expansion—of the current tax regime for formal IT exporters. What the industry has consistently asked for is not a one-time concession or patchwork relief, but a stable, 10-year tax policy framework—one that allows companies to invest, grow and compete with global peers. That has been ignored. For over a year, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has warned of a growing imbalance. High-earning remote workers employed by foreign companies; often indistinguishable from full-time employees, remain largely untaxed. Meanwhile, P@sha said, companies based in Pakistan, employing and training local talent, are taxed, audited and over-regulated. This makes local hiring more expensive; while incentivizing capital flight and informal arrangements. Talent retention is collapsing; export dollars are being parked abroad, and formal firms are bleeding value. The government's refusal to act is particularly frustrating given the simplicity of the proposed solution: P@SHA has recommended classifying any individual earning over PKR 2.5 million annually from fewer than three foreign sources as a remote worker. This affects only the top 5% of earners and avoids harming freelancers and small remitters. The State Bank already tracks the necessary data. This is a policy that could be implemented overnight—yet has been ignored for years. Worse still is the government's failure to extend the existing tax regime for exporters. This regime was the foundation for over $700 million in investment commitments secured through the Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) initiative. The country spent hundreds of millions of rupees to secure this investment. Sadly, with no continuity in tax policy and those investments are now in jeopardy. Foreign investors will not engage with a country where rules shift every year. This is not just bad policy—it is a signal to the world that Pakistan's digital economy is not ready to be taken seriously. The results will be devastating. Pakistan's IT sector—its fastest-growing, most globally competitive industry—may lose its momentum entirely. Export growth will stall; jobs will disappear and the government's dream of reaching $25 billion in IT exports will not just be delayed—it will become permanently out of reach. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Construction industry says concerned at curbs on non-filers
KARACHI: The construction industry has raised serious concerns over proposed financial restrictions for non-tax filers in the federal budget 2025-26, warning that the measures could accelerate capital flight from this sector already experiencing negative growth for the last three consecutive years. Hassan Bakshi, Chairman, Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD), expressed these concerns while speaking to Business Recorder on Wednesday, highlighting the potential adverse impact on the construction sector's recovery prospects. He said the primary concern is about the proposed restrictions that would bar non-filers from purchasing immovable property in Pakistan. He argued that such measures would create a negative impact on the construction sector that is already struggling to regain momentum. According to Bakshi, ABAD has already engaged with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif regarding these restrictions. 'We have discussed it with the prime minister, expressing our concerns on the said restriction.' He believed that the proposal was neither included under the IMF recommendations nor with the PM's consent, who has assured ABAD not to implement it. 'ABAD is planning a delegation visit to Islamabad next week to further discuss the matter with the high-ups,' he informed. Rather than imposing pre-emptive restrictions, Bakshi suggested, allowing non-filers to purchase immovable properties, which would provide the government with comprehensive financial details of these individuals. This information could then be utilised to bring them into the tax net, which he believed would be a more inclusive approach for broadening of tax base. Chairman ABAD warned that the enforcement of these restrictions could have far-reaching consequences beyond domestic markets. 'If the said restrictions were enforced, the construction sector, which is already facing negative growth for the last three years, won't see any healthy business activities in the coming financial year.' Bakshi said that the measures would expedite the flight of capital, especially to Middle Eastern countries, which are now offering partnerships to our developers with their expertise, not investments. He said that withholding tax on property purchases has been proposed to be reduced for the buyers, but the tax burden on sellers has been recommended to increase proportionally, adding that this approach would not create any positive impact, as it merely shifts the tax burden rather than reducing it. Despite the concerns, the ABAD chairman acknowledged several positive proposals in this budget, including the introduction of tax credits to encourage mortgage financing and the reduction in stamp duty for Islamabad. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Naqvi directs all subsidiary institutions to enhance mutual cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday directed all departments under the Ministry of Interior to ensure effective coordination and timely sharing of data to improve governance and service delivery. Chairing a meeting, the minister said that seamless exchange of information among institutions is vital for efficient operations. He noted that officers stationed at Pakistani embassies abroad under various departmental portfolios could also assist other wings, institutions of the ministry. The meeting, which was also attended by the heads of all attached departments, decided to enhance mutual cooperation among all subsidiary institutions of the Ministry of Interior. Naqvi said that mutual cooperation among all departments is extremely important. He said that all institutions should make full use of each other's capabilities and bring ease to the lives of citizens. He stressed the importance of making full use of the human resources of all institutions, saying that improved coordination among departments would benefit both the government and the public. Naqvi instructed that nominations for professional training courses should be strictly merit-based. He asked all departments to submit recommendations, based on which the federal secretary interior will formulate a comprehensive capacity-building plan for presentation to the ministry. State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry, secretary Ministry of Interior, and heads of departments including National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary (FC), Rangers, National Police Academy, National Police Bureau, Immigration and Passport (I&P) Directorate, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and Islamabad police as well as officials of Narcotics Division. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
