The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) celebrated the 13th cohort of students in its Joint Master of Business Administration programme with the prestigious French institution, ESSEC Business School. The event was attended by a distinguished group of officials, faculty members, and students. 

This year, the programme hosts 30 students from various GCC countries, including 21 from Kuwait, six from Bahrain and three from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step towards achieving their future aspirations in the business realm.  

In his address during the ceremony, Prof. Waleed Zubari, Dean of the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at AGU, stated: “We take pride in welcoming this distinguished group of ambitious students who will emerge as the future leaders of business. Our partnership with the renowned ESSEC Business School is one of the programme’s key foundations, as it contributes to providing a world-class education aimed at honing their leadership skills and empowering them to meet the challenges of global and regional business.” 

He added, “This programme stands out by offering two specialised tracks: 'Public-Private Partnerships' and 'Facility Management'. These tracks have been strategically selected to address critical development areas within the GCC, such as infrastructure development, energy sustainability and the effective delivery of essential services. Furthermore, the curriculum is infused with emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, covering topics including e-commerce, fintech, AI, and the digitisation of government services, recognising the accelerating role these technologies play in business management within the region.”  

For his part, Prof. Adel Al Alawi, Programme Coordinator, emphasised the importance of this programme in equipping students with contemporary knowledge and practical skills in various management fields, such as strategy, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. 

He further said: “The programme also focuses on contemporary issues, such as digitisation, technological innovation, and the economic challenges facing the Arabian Gulf region. We are committed to providing an encouraging and supportive educational environment to enable students to achieve their professional goals.”  

It is noteworthy that the Joint Master of Business Administration programme between AGU and ESSEC Business School has seen remarkable success since its inception, graduating over 300 students across 12 previous cohorts. The programme is among the most distinguished in the region, due to its methodology, which combines theoretical education with practical application, while focusing on the challenges and opportunities present in the Gulf business environment.  

Students from the 13th cohort are expected to graduate in June 2026, equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to actively contribute to the development of GCC economies and enhance the trajectory of growth and innovation in their communities.  

The ceremony concluded with gratitude extended to all attendees and partners, especially the French Embassy and ESSEC Business School, for their ongoing support of the programme, along with wishes for the new students for a successful and distinguished academic journey.