INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools with campuses in Europe, Asia and Middle East, announced today the inauguration of its new campus, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market, ADGM, located in the heart of the capital at ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island. The event also marks ten years since INSEAD officially established its presence in the UAE.

The inauguration follows a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed earlier this year by ADEK, ADGM and INSEAD, that underlines their active engagement towards building up business knowledge and competence in Abu Dhabi, and reinforces the emirate’s role as a centre of excellence for education, knowledge and talent development.

The new INSEAD campus is a key part of INSEAD’s global strategy and is testament to the business school’s commitment to furthering excellence in management and entrepreneurship in a dynamic region with economic energy and that is open to the world.

Present at the inauguration ceremony today were Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Chairman of ADEK, Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of ADGM, Sharifa Al Jabri, Acting Director-General for The Human Resources Authority of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and Prof. Miguel Lobo, Director of the INSEAD Middle East Campus in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi said, "ADEK is delighted to witness and be part of this pivotal milestone. INSEAD continues to prove how competent and powerful they are in building up business knowledge and talent amongst professionals, entrepreneurs and senior executives, who are expected to contribute to a demanding job market, whether nationally or internationally."

ADEK’s Chairman added that there is significant competition in the market place for highly qualified professionals and entrepreneurs. "The nation has high confidence in its youth, and encourages diversification in various fields. All professions are equally important. In order for the economy to further flourish, our aim should be to highlight potential talent amongst tomorrow’s future generation, and improvise on their capabilities."

Ahmed Al Sayegh said, 'We welcome INSEAD’s presence at ADGM as this augments our ambition to establish the regional education hub for business and financial knowledge, skills and expertise. This also attests to ADGM's strength and fundamental as the preferred international financial centre and playing our part in contributing to the growth and future of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the greater region."

Dr. Yousef Al-Sheryani praised the role that reputable world-class higher education institutes, such as INSEAD, play in supporting Abu Dhabi’s strategic plans which aim at turning the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into an international hub for education and talent.

"ADEK has played a huge role in attracting educational excellence across diverse higher education institutions, while guaranteeing continuous improvement in the overall education sector. The development of a highly qualified, globally competitive, and productive workforce in alignment with the emirate’s dynamic and fast growing economy is amongst ADEK’s top priorities," he said.

Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD and Professor of Economics, said, "INSEAD aims to be the leading business school in every region where we have a presence. With the support of ADEK, and the partnership with ADGM, the new campus at ADGM Square in Al Maryah Island gives INSEAD the right platform for the next stage in our strategy to establish a global top-tier school in the UAE."

Miguel Lobo said, "With the opening of the new facility, the Middle East Campus in Abu Dhabi continues to witness remarkable growth, with a priority on maintaining uniform quality standards, including via programme admissions and faculty recruitment, which operates globally across campuses. Our strategy is to build a campus with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and which is deeply invested in the regional economy."