Dubai Business Associates Welcomes Tenth Cohort, Fostering Global Business Leaders

Photo : Dubai government media office

Dubai Business Associates (DBA), one of the world’s premier leadership development programs, recently welcomed 27 new Associates for the 2024/2025 cohort. This year’s group, selected from a competitive pool of over 5,000 applicants across 160 countries, represents 22 different nations, including participants from the EU, the UK, India, China, Indonesia, Canada, Malawi, and Colombia, among others. The Associates will have the opportunity to work alongside talented young Emiratis, fostering a rich environment for cultural exchange and leadership development.

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The DBA program, fully funded and lasting nine months, offers a holistic experience that blends academic learning with real-world business applications. The Associates will undergo rigorous management consulting training, competency-based business fundamentals, career coaching, and gain work experience through placements with leading Dubai-based organizations. Some of the top placement partners include global names like the Emirates Group, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), DP World, Dubai Holding, and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

In addition to their work placements, the Associates will benefit from engaging with the program’s esteemed learning partners, including PwC, Capadev, and Bon Education. These partners conduct high-quality seminars, workshops, and case studies designed to sharpen business acumen. The program also incorporates deep learning about Dubai’s unique position as a global hub, offering insights through business workshops, networking events, and interactions with industry leaders.

The DBA’s 2024/2025 cohort was officially welcomed during an opening ceremony held at Dubai International Financial Centre. Speaking about the program’s potential, new DBA Director Rami Tawfiq, who brings over 15 years of leadership development and strategy consulting experience to his role, expressed excitement about leading the program into its next decade. Rami emphasized how the DBA attracts top talent from around the globe, developing their leadership skills while fostering collaboration between international and Emirati participants. He noted that the combination of professional and personal growth opportunities, along with hands-on contributions to real-world projects in Dubai, is a major draw for aspiring leaders.

The DBA has developed a strong reputation for producing leaders who excel in business, politics, and social impact roles. Majed Bin Thanaya, an Emirati graduate of the previous year’s program, praised the experience for its transformative effect on his career. He credited the DBA with giving him the skills to succeed as a leadership and talent partner with the Emirates Group. 

In addition to the personal and professional development it provides, the DBA has also delivered tangible results for its partner organizations. Sharon McCafferty, Strategic Project Office Manager at dnata, part of the Emirates Group, shared her enthusiasm for the ongoing partnership with DBA. Over the years, Associates have made significant contributions to dnata projects, and the organization looks forward to working with the latest cohort.

The impact of the DBA is reflected in its alumni, who have completed 84 projects for more than 30 placement partners. Since the program’s inception, 278 alumni from 44 nationalities have graduated, many going on to achieve remarkable success. Notable alumni include tech entrepreneur Raymond Zhu, founder of Wing Go, and US graduate Jodi Cullity, who worked for First Lady Jill Biden. Other graduates have secured positions at top companies like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Microsoft, and Google.

The Dubai Business Associates program continues to serve as a leading incubator for future global leaders, and with its latest cohort, it aims to further contribute to Dubai’s growth as an international business and innovation hub.