The University of Manchester – Dubai has announced a Strategic Talent Partnership with Fazaa aimed at expanding professional development opportunities for Fazaa members.
Under the agreement, Fazaa members will be able to access The University of Manchester – Dubai’s part-time master’s programmes and executive education short courses, with the university saying members will also receive preferential tuition rates. The partnership includes leadership and management development solutions, the company said, and an annual masterclass hosted at Fazaa delivered by academics from The University of Manchester – Dubai.
The announcement is dated 20 October 2026 and positions the initiative as part of the university’s broader efforts to strengthen industry-academia links and support continuous learning across the region.
University and Fazaa statements
Randa Bessiso, Founding Director and CEO, Middle East, The University of Manchester – Dubai, said the development of future-ready talent is central to the UAE’s ambition to build a competitive and knowledge-driven economy. She added that higher education institutions have a role in helping individuals and organisations respond to changing skills requirements and evolving workplace demands. Bessiso said the collaboration is designed to strengthen connections between academia and the wider community by giving professionals access to postgraduate education and learning opportunities.
Fazaa’s General Manager, Ahmed Mohammed Buharoon, said the partnership is intended to expand access to globally recognised education and leadership development. He described the initiative as supporting members to strengthen their capabilities, advance their careers, and contribute to what he called the UAE’s knowledge-based economy.
Focus on lifelong learning and regional participation
The release also states that organisations across the region have partnered with The University of Manchester – Dubai to support talent development. It frames the partnership as aligned with the UAE’s emphasis on human capital development and lifelong learning, and highlights the role of connections between academic expertise and professional networks.
In background information, The University of Manchester – Dubai says its Dubai Knowledge Park campus opened in 2006 and is described as the largest and fastest growing site in the university’s international network. The university says the branch comprises five hubs in business cities and that it has supported more than 3,870 students in the region and graduated over 2,750. It also says it has regional collaborations with industry groups and professional bodies, and supports an alumni base of over 5,600.
The announcement does not provide specific programme names, curriculum details, or the criteria for member eligibility, but it indicates that Fazaa members will receive access to the university’s part-time master’s options and executive short courses, alongside preferential tuition rates.