Middle East

This is such an exciting time for my team and me in Dubai, United Arab Emirates! We are pleased to have formal partnerships now in place with the DIFC Centre of Excellence, Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD). We are also offering our first regional Executive Education course, the Dubai Duke Leadership Workshop, to be held at the Capital Club Dubai from December 13-15, 2011. 

We would like to thank everyone who helped make these partnerships a reality, especially His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Excellency Abdullah Mohammed Saleh, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre; and the Young Arab Leaders.

My team and I look forward to offering new programs and working with our partners and students who will soon be here. Now the work of becoming truly embedded in the region will take shape as our programs and infrastructure come to life here in Dubai.

I invite you to contact me or a member of our team with any questions you have about our programs.

Best wishes,

Patricia McCall
Regional Director
Mideast@fuqua.duke.edu 

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:

Durham North Carolina Programs

• Daytime MBA — a traditional, full-time program based on the Duke campus in North Carolina 
• Weekend Executive MBA — for working professionals who live within commutable distance of the Duke campus in North Carolina
• Master of Management Studies (MMS: Foundation of Business) — a 10-month, full-time program, for recent college graduates, based on the Duke campus in North Carolina

• Cross Continent MBA — an international program for working professionals (average age is 30) from around the world without interruptions to their career
• Global Executive MBA — an international program tailored for senior executives (average age is 39) who complete the program from anywhere in the world without interruptions to their career

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Program

• MMS: Finance — a 26 month, part-time program for working professionals based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Executive Education
The Fuqua School of Business is now offering 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

Telephone: + 9714.401.9306
E-mail: Mideast@fuqua.duke.edu

Patricia McCall
Regional Director, Middle East
pjm29@duke.edu

Patricia McCall is Regional Director for the Middle East for The Fuqua School of Business. McCall's career includes working as an analyst for Merrill Lynch, as a financial consultant for an Internet company, and as an emerging market equity salesperson at ING Barings. She spent four years as a macroeconomic and equity analyst at Banyan Fund Management with a primary focus on emerging markets in Asia. She worked as a consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, completing an in-depth analysis of foreign direct investment and corporate social responsibility in conflict areas and worked for the IFC - International Finance Corporation of the World Bank in Cairo, Egypt where she focused on regional investment climate and regulatory reform. Most recently, McCall was Head of Research at Jasper Capital, a Dubai-based consulting and corporate finance firm where she conducted regional economic and industry analysis for clients, consulted on various regulatory reform advisory for regional governments and advised on corporate finance projects.

McCall graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. She received her master's degree in international affairs, focusing on Middle East studies and economic development, from Columbia University's Graduate School of International and Public Affairs, New York.

Lana Dajani
Regional Manager, Middle East
lzd@duke.edu

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

Dajani previously worked as a 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.

Mohan Venkatachalam
Associate Professor
Academic Director, Middle East
mohan.venkatachalam@duke.edu

Associate Professor Mohan Venkatachalam is Academic Director for the Middle East region for The Fuqua School of Business. He has worked as associate professor of accounting at Fuqua since 2002. He was previously assistant professor at Stanford University from 1996 - 2002. He also was an audit executive at Suhail & Saud Bahwan, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman from 1988 - 1990. He worked as a business accountant at Chemicals & Plastics India Ltd., Madras, India, from 1987 - 1988. Venkatachalam's teaching and research interests include financial reporting and financial statement analysis. View his curriculum vita.

Venkatachalam earned a PhD in accounting in 1996 from the University of Iowa; he completed the exam requirements from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), London, United Kingdom in 1990; he also earned an ACA degree in 1987 from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. In 1986 he earned a BCom degree from the University of Madras in India.

Ivette Jacinto
Receptionist, Middle East
ivette.jacinto@duke.edu

Ivette Jacinto joined the 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. Jacinto holds a bachelor's of science in accounting.

DIFC Centre of Excellence  

Duke's Fuqua School of Business, in partnership with the DIFC Centre of Excellence, is establishing an office and leasing classroom space in the DIFC Centre of Excellence. Students of The Duke MBA—Cross Continent and The Duke MBA—Global Executive programs attend classes at the DIFC Centre of Excellence. In addition, Duke will also offer programs at the Dubai Institute for Human Resources Development.

Duke and the DIFC Centre of Excellence will establish joint research centers, which will allow Duke's faculty and graduate students to pursue research topics related to the United Arab Emirates and the greater Middle East region, while contributing to scholarship within the UAE.

Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Foundation

The Fuqua School of Business is an official partner of the Mohammad Bin Rashid al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), a $10 billion dollar 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) 

The Fuqua School of Business 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 will assist 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 the Young Arab Leaders' summit in Dubai on Nov. 5 - 6, 2010, 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. View the press release.

Duke CE Clients in the Middle East include:

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

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
Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) 
Head of Transition Management Office (TMO)
Dubai Holding 
Board Member since 2008
Global Executive MBA 2001

Ahmad Sharaf is a senior leader at Dubai Holding and is the Head of the Transition Management Office. He is responsible for driving the overall strategy and direction of the corporate change management process and works directly with the Group CEO Ahmad Bin Byat.

Prior to his appointment at Dubai Holding, Mr. Sharaf held leadership positions in Tatweer which he joined in 2005. Mr. Sharaf was the Chief Executive Officer of Tatweer Investments, where he was responsible for leading the company’s long term growth strategy in the domestic and international arena. During his time in Tatweer, Mr. Sharaf held executive responsibilities for the energy, healthcare, food and beverage and real estate portfolios within the company.

Mr. Sharaf is the Chairman of Dubai Mercantile Exchange, Chairman of the Board for University Hospital and serves as a Member of the Audit Committee of Dubai Holding.

Alongside his leadership positions in Dubai Holding, Mr. Sharaf is a Member of the Board of the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), a Member of the ENOC Audit Committee, and Vice Chairman of Dragon Oil. Mr. Sharaf serves as a Member of the Board of Visitors and a Group Member of the Global Partnerships Committee of the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.

Prior to joining Tatweer, Mr. Sharaf held senior management positions with international and state energy companies in the United States and the Middle East. A petroleum engineer by training, Mr. Sharaf began his career with Conoco Inc. in Houston, Texas. Following the creation of ConocoPhillips in 2002, he was appointed General Manager and Director, Business Development, Middle East responsible for managing new growth opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Mr. Sharaf earned a B.Sc and M.Sc in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and a Global Executive MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Alumni Clubs

Fuqua boasts more than 30 alumni clubs around the world, including in Asia. 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, please contact Katie Thomasson, Associate Director of Alumni Relations, at katie.thomasson@duke.edu.

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:

Events in Middle East Region

Past Events