History | American University in Dubai (AUD) Campus 360 virtual tours Scholarships Inclusion Research Sustainability initiatives Innovation Student exchange opportunities Library AUD intranet Work with us Our History The evolution of the American University in Dubai began as a fact-finding mission in 1991 and signified the beginning of what was to grow to become one of the region’s most respected institutions for higher education. Planning your Visit to Campus? Book an Appointment About AUD Overview Mission Facts and Figures Accreditations Why Study at AUD History AUD Leadership Governing Board and Leadership Office of the President Office of the Executive Vice President Office of the Provost University Policies General Policies Academic Policies Centers at AUD Quality Enhancement Plan News Events FAQs The evolution of the American University in Dubai began as a fact-finding mission in 1991 and signified the beginning of what was to grow to become one of the region’s most respected institutions for higher education. When a team, led by Elias Bou Saab from the American College in Atlanta, Georgia, visited the Gulf to establish relationships with various ministries of higher education as well as the region’s schools, Dubai was still a developing destination in the Middle East. Four years later, in 1995, Mr. Bou Saab officially established the American University in Dubai, with the full commitment and support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. To this day, His Highness continues his unlimited support for higher education in general and to the university in particular. The guiding principle underlying the University’s establishment was bringing the American educational system to the region, without interfering with or challenging the culture or values of the local community. The institution achieved this goal and, to this day, considers it a key to its success. In October 1995, AUD opened its doors as a branch campus of the American College in Atlanta. With 165 students enrolled, half of which were females, AUD grew progressively over the years and in 2000 the University became officially licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOESR), while moving into its new fully equipped, purpose-built campus in an area that would soon be known as ‘New Dubai.’ A Modern Day University Today, the American University in Dubai is a fully independent, vibrant institution which serves as a point of reference for higher education within the Gulf Region and greater Middle East. It currently educates more than 2,000 students of more than 100 nationalities, and remains the first institution outside of the U.S. and Latin America to receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). AUD’S TIMELINE January 1995 Mr. Elias Bou Saab moves to Dubai and establishes the American University in Dubai Fall 1995 Opening enrollment of 165 January 1996 Addition of MBA program December 1996 SACSCOC accreditation January 1997 IAA accreditation (advertising programs) June 1997 Dr. Lance de Masi becomes President/Chief Academic Officer March 1998 Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Commission (NPEC) issues degree-granting rights June 1998 First Commencement Exercises – James Baker, Keynote Speaker January 2000 Move to new location Enrollment, 648 Licensure by UAE Ministry of Higher Education May 2000 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurates AUD Campus April 2001 SACSCOC Substantive Change Prospectus (School of Engineering) June 2002 Fifth Commencement Exercises – President William J. Clinton, Keynote Speaker Fall 2002 First engineering student admitted November 2003 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurates the School of Engineering December 2003 SACSCOC reaffirms AUD accreditation May 2005 UAE Ministry of Education completes accreditation of all AUD programs September 2007 AUD opens School of Communication December 2007 AUD becomes the only institution of higher learning outside the US and Latin America to receive SACSCOC independent accreditation. March 2008 Inaugural Harvard-AUD student exchange May 2008 Revised Mission/Purpose-related Goals ratified June 2008 Naming of Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication September 2008 Engineering programs (Civil, Computer, and Electrical) receive ABET accreditation September 2009 B.Arch. program (five year) launched Revised Arts and Sciences Core takes effect First Certificate program launched – Middle Eastern Studies September 2011 The School of Arts and Sciences is established with the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (B.A.I.S.) launched as its first degree program January 2012 Interior Design, Visual Communication, and Architecture departments form in a new School of Architecture, Art and Design October 2012 ABET accredits Mechanical Engineering program December 2012 Granted SACSCOC Reaffirmation (ten-year re-accreditation) July 2013 UAE Ministry of Education renews AUD license for five years May 2014 First B.A.I.S., B.Arch., M.Ed. and M.S.C.M. degrees granted May 2015 ACEJMC accredits B.C.I.S. program November 2015 UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media April 2016 CIDA accredits B.F.A. in Interior Design program March 2017 AUD unveils revised Mission and Statement of Philosophy May 2017 AUD holds its 20th Commencement Exercises May 2017 Visual Communication and Interior Design programs receive NASAD substantial equivalency November 2017 The School of Business Administration receives AACSB accreditation December 2017 UAE Ministry of Education grants accreditation to the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology January 2018 NAAB initial accreditation of the Bachelor of Architecture September 2018 UAE Ministry of Education grants accreditation to the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) December 2018 UAE Ministry of Education renews AUD license for five years President Lance de Masi retires July 2019 Dr. David A. Schmidt appointed as President August 2019 First EMBA cohort enrolls January 2020 UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Intellectual Property and Innovation Management April 2020 UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Urban Design and Digital Environments (M.U.D.D.E.) UAE Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Affairs January 2021 NAAB Continuing of Accreditation of the Bachelor of Architecture September 2022 First Biology Student Admitted December 2022 Granted SACSCOC Reaffirmation (ten-year re-accreditation) August 2023 Dr. Lance de Masi returns as Interim President June 2023 Ministry of Education accredits the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (M.S.A.I.) April 2024 Granted UAE Ministry of Education Renewal of Institutional Licensure August 2024 Dr. Kyle Long appointed as President November 2024 Visual Communication and Interior Design programs receive NASAD renewal of substantial equivalency December 2024 UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research accredits the Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development (B.S.)