Bg

Our History

The evolution of the American University in Dubai began as a fact-finding mission in 1991 and signified the beginning of what was to grow to become one of the region’s most respected institutions for higher education.

The evolution of the American University in Dubai began as a fact-finding mission in 1991 and signified the beginning of what was to grow to become one of the region’s most respected institutions for higher education.

When a team, led by Elias Bou Saab from the American College in Atlanta, Georgia, visited the Gulf to establish relationships with various ministries of higher education as well as the region’s schools, Dubai was still a developing destination in the Middle East.

Four years later, in 1995, Mr. Bou Saab officially established the American University in Dubai, with the full commitment and support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. To this day, His Highness continues his unlimited support for higher education in general and to the university in particular.

The guiding principle underlying the University’s establishment was bringing the American educational system to the region, without interfering with or challenging the culture or values of the local community. The institution achieved this goal and, to this day, considers it a key to its success.

In October 1995, AUD opened its doors as a branch campus of the American College in Atlanta. With 165 students enrolled, half of which were females, AUD grew progressively over the years and in 2000 the University became officially licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOESR), while moving into its new fully equipped, purpose-built campus in an area that would soon be known as ‘New Dubai.’

A MODERN DAY UNIVERSITY

Today, the American University in Dubai is a fully independent, vibrant institution which serves as a point of reference for higher education within the Gulf Region and greater Middle East. It currently educates more than 2,000 students of more than100 nationalities, and remains the first institution outside of the U.S. and Latin America to receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

AUD’S TIMELINE

January 1995

Mr. Elias Bou Saab moves to Dubai and establishes the American University in Dubai

Fall 1995

Opening enrollment of 165

January 1996

Addition of MBA program

December 1996

SACSCOC accreditation

January 1997

IAA accreditation (advertising programs)

June 1997

Dr. Lance de Masi becomes President/Chief Academic Officer

March 1998

Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Commission (NPEC) issues degree-granting rights

June 1998

First Commencement Exercises – James Baker, Keynote Speaker

January 2000

Move to new location

 

Enrollment, 648

 

Licensure by UAE Ministry of Higher Education

May 2000

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurates AUD Campus

April 2001

SACSCOC Substantive Change Prospectus (School of Engineering) 

June 2002

Fifth Commencement Exercises – President William J. Clinton, Keynote Speaker 

Fall 2002

First engineering student admitted 

November 2003

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurates the School of Engineering 

December 2003

SACSCOC reaffirms AUD accreditation 

May 2005

UAE Ministry of Education completes accreditation of all AUD programs 

September 2007

AUD opens School of Communication 

December 2007

AUD becomes the first and only institution of higher learning outside the US and Latin America to receive SACSCOC independent accreditation.

March 2008

Inaugural Harvard-AUD student exchange 

May 2008

Revised Mission/Purpose-related Goals ratified 

June 2008

Naming of Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication 

September 2008

Engineering programs (Civil, Computer, and Electrical) receive ABET accreditation 

September 2009

B.Arch. program (five year) launched 

 

Revised Arts and Sciences Core takes effect 

 

First Certificate program launched – Middle Eastern Studies 

September 2011

The School of Arts and Sciences is established with the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (B.A.I.S.) launched as its first degree program 

January 2012

Interior Design, Visual Communication, and Architecture departments form in a new School of Architecture, Art and Design

October 2012

ABET accredits Mechanical Engineering program 

December 2012

Granted SACSCOC Reaffirmation (ten-year re-accreditation) 

July 2013

UAE Ministry of Education renews AUD license for five years

May 2014

First B.A.I.S., B.Arch., M.Ed. and M.S.C.M. degrees granted

May 2015

ACEJMC accredits B.C.I.S. program

November 2015

UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media

April 2016

CIDA accredits B.F.A. in Interior Design program

March 2017

AUD unveils revised Mission and Statement of Philosophy

May 2017

AUD holds its 20th Commencement Exercises

May 2017

Visual Communication and Interior Design programs receive NASAD substantial equivalency

November 2017

The School of Business Administration receives AACSB accreditation

December 2017

UAE Ministry of Education grants accreditation to the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

January 2018

NAAB initial accreditation of the Bachelor of Architecture

September 2018

UAE Ministry of Education grants accreditation to the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) 

December 2018

UAE Ministry of Education renews AUD license for five years

 

President Lance de Masi retires

July 2019

Dr. David A. Schmidt appointed as President

August 2019

First EMBA cohort enrolls

January 2020

UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Intellectual Property and Innovation Management

April 2020

UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Urban Design and Digital Environments (M.U.D.D.E.)

 

UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Affairs

January 2021

NAAB Continuing of Accreditation of the Bachelor of Architecture

September 2022

First Biology Student Admitted

December 2022

Granted SACSCOC Reaffirmation (ten-year re-accreditation)

August 2023

Dr. Lance de Masi Returns as Interim President

instagram TikTok facebook twitter youtube