The Dubai Business Associates (DBI) Class of 2018, which is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today celebrated their formal arrival to Dubai.
Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) delivered a wonderful keynote address to welcome our new cohort to Dubai and offered sage advice on how to best harness the great opportunities that Dubai Business Associates can offer.
The 36 Associates hails from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom and the United States and will be initially placed with DTCM, Dubai Opera, Jumeirah, DIFC Fintech, Emirates NBD, DMCC, DTEC, DIFC Authroity, Dubai Duty Free, KHDA, Emirates Literature Festival, Smart Dubai, the Department of Economic Development, TECOM Investments, Area 2071/Dubai Future Foundation, Dnata, Emirates and finally Golf in Dubai.
Two of the Associates have specifically arrived through a new partnership with the Rory Foundation which represents Rory McIlroy who is one of the most eminent golfers in the world. This new partnership has ensured the participation of Jessica Boal from Northern Ireland who will be seconded to Golf in Dubai to work on the Dubai Ladies Classic and the Dubai Desert Classic and Caitlin Bricketto from the United States who will be seconded to Dubai Duty Free to work on the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
All of the Associates came through a rigorous interview process where there were once more close to 5,000 applicants from around the world.
The Associates will enter the expert training of PWC Academy Middle East who are our new learning partner. PWC Academy Middle East will partner with Capadev who deliver the elite strategic consulting module and Bon Education who provide the cultural and societal context events.