Middle East

The Fuqua School of Business is deeply committed to the Middle East and North Africa. Our global strategy is to embed and connect in the most important economic regions of the world. This approach allows us to understand this region from a local perspective, while also providing a context for how the Middle East fits into the larger global business landscape. We are learning about the infrastructure, the pertinent issues, key players, and cultural nuances that make this region tick. Even in the virtually connected world, there is no substitute for first-hand experience. By connecting the region to our base in Durham, North Carolina, USA, and all our locations around the world, we are uniquely qualified to train the leaders of a business environment without boundaries.

Fuqua Programs for Middle East Students

Fuqua has offered programs in the Middle East for quite some time and every year Fuqua welcomes students from all over the Middle East and North Africa. If you are considering Duke and would like to learn more, please contact us directly or attend one of our information sessions. The Duke MBA is an internationally renowned business degree that can be studied in one of four different programs, depending on your level of professional experience and your personal and professional goals. Programs available are:

Full-time Programs in Durham, North Carolina

• Daytime MBA —  a traditional two-year full-time program ideal for candidates with several years of business experience
• Master of Management Studies (MMS: Foundation of Business) —  a 10-month full-time program for recent college graduates with no business experience

Global Programs

No matter where in the world they live and work, working professionals can complete these global programs without interrupting successful careers, studying in multiple locations across the world, including the first and last terms on the Duke campus in North Carolina.

• Cross Continent MBA — a 16-month international program for younger professionals (average age is 30) who will study in 5 different locations across the world
• Global Executive MBA — an intensive 15-month international program for senior executives (average age is 39) who will study in 7 global locations

Executive Education 

Fuqua offers the Dubai Duke Leadership Program in the UAE, which is a regional adaptation of one of their most successful US-based Executive Education programs, the Duke Leadership Program. Taught by Sim Sitkin, Professor of Management and founding Faculty Director of the Center on Leadership and Ethics, participants will hone their leadership skills and learn how to foster successful team dynamics and cohesiveness.

Additionally, Duke University's corporate education arm, Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE), is responsible for all customized executive education requests. Duke CE has a global reputation for excellence spanning economics, international relations, trade, government and law. Duke CE has been ranked No. 1 in the world since 2003 (from the Financial Times).

Alumni in the Middle East and North Africa

One of the great benefits of the collaborative and inclusive personality of Duke is that the alumni network is not hampered by degree or school affiliation, but is extended to any graduate of any Duke program. This region is home to many Duke alumni with a wide selection of academic and cultural backgrounds who are united by their experience and love of Duke.

September 2010 marked the launch of the Duke Club of the Middle East. More details about general alumni activity can be found on the Fuqua Alumni pages. Examples of alumni events in the region include faculty seminars, keynotes by global leaders, networking events, and basketball viewings.

Corporate Partnerships

We work closely with a variety of organizations and companies from state-owned enterprises to government ministries, private enterprises, and multinational corporations. In doing so, we seek out engaging speakers and insightful mentors for our students.

Conferences

Duke University sponsors and participates in conferences across the region. Past conferences have included: Young Arab Leaders Regional Entrepreneurship Summit; World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi; Qatar Museum Authority: Muslim Cosmopolitanism and Arabnet ME in Lebanon. Please contact us if you are interested in having Duke faculty or senior leadership participate in an upcoming conference.

Contact Us

We hope to continue to broaden our partnerships and research collaborations so please feel free to contact us at Mideast@fuqua.duke.edu should you have questions about Fuqua activity in the region or wish to learn more about any of our programs.

Dubai Office

DIFC - Centre of Excellence
Gate Village | Building 2, Level 3
PO Box 74777 | Dubai, UAE
Tel: +9714 401 9342
Telephone: + 9714.401.9306
Email: Mideast@fuqua.duke.edu

Lana Dajani
Regional Director, Middle East
lana.dajani@duke.edu

Lana Dajani is Regional Director for the Middle East for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Dajani is responsible for business development, partnerships, and management of programs in residency. She works closely with the admissions, marketing and alumni departments based in North Carolina.

Dajani previously worked as a Regional Manager for Fuqua in the Middle East, and before that as Research Associate within the Business Development division of the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, in Dubai. Her role involved supporting investment projects across various sectors and managing the region's knowledge base and client relationships. She recently published a children's book titled My Letter to President Barack Obama, and she is an active volunteer with humanitarian relief organizations.
 
Dajani graduated with a bachelor's degree in international politics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She also earned a master's degree in international law from Georgetown University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC.

Ivette Jacinto
Office Manager, Middle East
ivette.jacinto@duke.edu

Ivette Jacinto joined Fuqua's Middle East team in May 2011. Jacinto's primary duties include receptionist and clerical work. In addition, she supports marketing efforts and coordinates logistics for admissions and program events in the region. Jacinto holds a bachelor's of science in accounting.

Middle East Regional Advisory Board

Our Board Members serve as senior advisors to the leadership team at Fuqua and Duke University on matters related to regional operations, the local culture and business environment, as well as our program curriculum.  They help us connect with leading firms in the region to establish career opportunities for our graduates.  They also assist with our recruitment efforts across the Middle East.

Board members are:

Mr. Fahad Raqbani
Director General, ADCED

H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Al Thani
Former Minister, Qatar's Economy and Commerce

Mr. Ahmad Sharaf
Chairman & Acting CEO, Mercantile Exchange
CEO, Dutco Energy 

Mr. Rishi Kapoor
CFO, Investcorp, Bahrain

Mr. Mohamad Al Agil
Chairman, Jarir Group and CEO, Jarir Investments

Mr. Ali Hashemi
Managing Partner, Avicenna Partners

Mr. Bassem Bitar
Alumni Rep / Director of Strategy, Solidere Group

Board of Visitors

Fuqua's Board of Visitors advise senior school leadership on all matters related to curriculum, programs, facilities, and operations while promoting better communication and relationships within the business community. One board member hails from the Middle East region:

Ahmad Sharaf
Chairman & Acting CEO, Mercantile Exchange
CEO, Dutco Energy
Board Member Since 2008
Global Executive MBA 2001

Alumni Clubs

Fuqua boasts more than 30 alumni clubs around the world. Visit the Fuqua alumni club's page to learn more about the latest events and activities of the clubs. For questions about Fuqua's alumni clubs, contact Katie Thomasson, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, at katie.thomasson@duke.edu.

DIFC Centre of Excellence  

The Fuqua School of Business, in partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre of Excellence, established an office in the DIFC Centre of Excellence. Fuqua's Dubai Duke Leadership Workshop and other executive education participants attend classes at the DIFC Centre of Excellence.

Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Foundation

Fuqua is an official partner of the Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), a $10 billion endowment from His Highness the Ruler of Dubai to support education, entrepreneurship, and culture across the Arab world. Under the partnership, MBRF provides full scholarships to Arab students who are admitted into Fuqua, and who have a visible commitment to the region.

Young Arab Leaders (YAL) 

Fuqua is partnered with Young Arab Leaders (YAL), a network of Arab men and women who are currently in prominent positions of responsibility and strive for extraordinary achievement. The partnership assists YAL in its mission to tackle unemployment through the pillars of education and entrepreneurship. YAL's education programs help Arab youth meet the ever-changing needs of the job market, while their entrepreneurship programs encourage entrepreneurial thinking among youth and provide much-needed support to burgeoning entrepreneurs.

Pictured: Speakers at a Young Arab Leaders' summit in Dubai, included Ruler of Dubai & UAE Prime Minister, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sultan Al-Qassemi, chairman of Young Arab Leaders–UAE chapter (both pictured in the front row). The event was sponsored in part by Duke. 

Duke Corporate Education

Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE) is Duke University's corporate education arm. It has been ranked as the world's No. 1 provider of customized executive education programs since 2003 (Financial Times). In 2008, Duke CE teamed with the Dubai Women Establishment to hold a forum on Women Leadership in the UAE, an interactive session highlighting global challenges faced by woman leaders across the globe. Session topics included policy making, research and practices, the future of women in leadership, and the unique role of women in the UAE in fostering economic growth and development. 

Duke CE Clients in the Middle East include:

• The Emirates Bank Group
• EQUATE
• The Executive Council of Dubai
• The Jeddah Economic Forum
• Tatweer

Through an extensive recruiting network, Fuqua alumni work across the globe. Our alumni are currently working in positions at a number of fine organizations within the Middle East. A representative, but not exhaustive, list is below:

Upcoming Events

Please check our full list of Fuqua Admissions Events for activities in other locations.

Past Events