Abu Dhabi University

Private university in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi University

جامعة أبوظبي

Motto| Knowledge to achieve and wisdom to lead
Type| Private research university
Established| 25 June 2003; 22 years ago (25 June 2003)
Founder| Ali bin Harmal Dhaheri
Accreditation| CAA
ADEK

Academic affiliation

* WASC
* EQUIS
* AACSB
* SHRM
* RIBA

Chairman| Ali bin Harmal Dhaheri
Chancellor| Ghassan Aouad

Academic staff

| 145[1]
Students| 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students[2][3]
Location|

Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

24°22′0″N 54°33′52″E﻿ / ﻿24.36667°N 54.56444°E﻿ / 24.36667; 54.56444
Other campuses|

* Al Ain
* Dubai
* Madinat Zayed

Website| www.adu.ac.ae
Abu Dhabi University

Abu Dhabi University (ADU) (Arabic: جامعة أبوظبي) is a private research university with its main campus in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and satellite campuses in Al Ain, Dubai and Madinat Zayed.[4] Founded in 2003 by Ali Saeed bin Harmal al-Dhaheri,[5] it is the largest private institution in the country that offers courses in various subjects up to post-graduation.[6][7]

## Overview

[edit]

The university's inception can be traced to the Charter of Abu Dhabi University in the year 2000 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nayhan, the-then Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Following three years of planning, the Abu Dhabi University was inaugurated in June 2003[8][9] and opened its doors to students in September 2003. According to the university, its founders "envisioned an institution that would be among the best in the United Arab Emirates, the Arabian Gulf region, and the world".[10]

## Accreditation

[edit]

The College of Business Administration received AACSB accreditation in 2015 and EQUIS in 2017.[11] Some College of Engineering programs received accreditation from ABET in 2015. In 2016 the university gained accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in the United States.[12][13] The Bachelor of Architecture course at Abu Dhabi University (ADU) earned the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) accreditation in 2018.[14] Abu Dhabi University is a partner with CIMA who has been accredited through the CIMA Global Learning scheme.[15] Abu Dhabi University is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA),[16] the UAE Federal Government's quality assurance agency for higher education.

## ADU Smart Learning Center

[edit]

Abu Dhabi University launched the ‘ADU Smart Learning Center’ to upskill faculty, design courses.[17]

## Colleges and programs

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Abu Dhabi University provides both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and consists of four colleges along with an English Language Institute. It currently has 8,000 students from 70 countries.[18]

## Campuses

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Abu Dhabi University

### Abu Dhabi Campus

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Scheduled to open in August 2016, an expansion will also feature 12 classrooms, 110 faculty and staff offices, meeting rooms, and multi-purpose rooms.[19]

### Al Ain Campus

[edit]

Main article: Abu Dhabi University–Al Ain

Opened in 2003 as one of the oldest campuses of the university. In 2017, a new campus in Al Ain was scheduled to open by September 2019 at a $81M cost. The new expansions will feature 70 classrooms and 137 offices, providing capacity for more than 2500 students.[20]

### Dubai Campus

[edit]

Main article: Abu Dhabi University–Dubai

Abu Dhabi University opened a new campus in Dubai located in Dubai Knowledge Park in September 2017. The 3,490-square-metre campus was inaugurated by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, who is also the vice-president of ADU's Board of Regents.[21]

## International ranking

[edit]

University rankings

Global – Overall
QS World[22]| 391 (2026)

The QS World Universities ranked Abu Dhabi University one of the best 750 best universities in the world (and 6th in the United Arab Emirates) in 2018.[23]

## References

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1. ^ Abu Dhabi University adds five new international scholars to its growing team of 145 faculty members Archived November 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, News Archive, Abu Dhabi University, UAE.
2. ^ "Abu Dhabi University seeking US accreditation to raise standards". The National. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
3. ^ "Abu Dhabi University inaugurates new Dh16 million dorm". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
4. ^ "Abu Dhabi University recognized amongst the world's top 550 universities". Al Bawaba Business. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
5. ^ Wam (2017-04-14). "Abu Dhabi University to open new campus in Dubai". Emirates24|7. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
6. ^ "Abu Dhabi University recognized amongst the world's top 550 universities". Al Bawaba Business. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
7. ^ "Abu Dhabi University seeking US accreditation to raise standards". The National. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
8. ^ "New Abu Dhabi University to open its doors September 2003". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
9. ^ Reporter, A. Staff. "Abu Dhabi to have private university". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
10. ^ ADU in Profile Archived December 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Abu Dhabi University, UAE.
11. ^ "Abu Dhabi University's College of Business Administration the 1st and only to be awarded EQUIS international accreditation in ME". Al Bawaba. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
12. ^ "UAE and Abu Dhabi Universities receive the WASC certificate". United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
13. ^ Staff reporter. "Abu Dhabi University gets int'l accreditation". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
14. ^ Staff Report (2018-07-08). "Abu Dhabi University architecture programme earns top accreditation". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
15. ^ "CIMA - Abu Dhabi University (ADU)". www.cimaglobal.com. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
16. ^ "HE Institute - Abu Dhabi University". Commission for Academic Accreditation. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
17. ^ Godinho, Varun (2022-03-03). "Abu Dhabi University launches new e-learning centre to upskill faculty, design courses". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
18. ^ "Abu Dhabi University inaugurates new Dh16 million dorm". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
19. ^ Staff reporter. "Abu Dhabi University launches expansion plan". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
20. ^ "Work starts on new $81m Al Ain university campus". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
21. ^ "Abu Dhabi University opens Dubai campus".
22. ^ "QS World University Rankings".
23. ^ "Abu Dhabi University". Top Universities. 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-01.

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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