Yes, you may apply the following year.
To apply, applicants should be recent university graduates who have:
Applicants should hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, however applicants are not required to hold a degree in Business – we recruit associates from diverse academic backgrounds.
Each application is reviewed in light of the eligibility criteria and each component of the application is considered (cover letter/letter of interest, CV, and video biography). Both content and presentation are taken into account.
Applications selected to move forward to the interview stage can expect to have a virtual interview with a member of the recruitment team. Upon successfully passing the first interview, applicants will be invited to a final interview, which may be virtual or in-person. More information on the recruitment process can be shared during the first interview.
The size of each year’s cohort varies, though the maximum number of associates is 40. Our aim is to recruit 1/3 from China, 1/3 local Emiratis, and 1/3 from the rest of the world.
Yes. You can apply to the programme if you have 0-3 years of work experience.
There is no cost to join the programme – it is fully funded.
Associates receive joining airfare to travel to Dubai at the beginning of the programme, accommodation in a high-standard hotel apartment, medical insurance, residence visa, and airfare back to their home country/point of departure at the end of the programme. During the programme, associates receive a monthly living allowance that is sufficient for day-to-day expenses and even some regional travel.
No, there is no guarantee of a job upon programme completion. The programme does provide associates with ample networking opportunities, and many past associates have been able to secure jobs in the UAE after graduation.
Yes. It is not a pre-requisite to have an educational background in business or work experience in the field of business to apply to DBA, though you must have a keen interest in international business, ideally with curiosity about the Dubai business landscape. We look for applicants with a curious and inquiring mind.
Offers cannot be deferred, and associates joining must join as per the programme calendar. Requests for deferrals, late arrival, or early departure cannot be considered.
It will stand out in your application if you are well researched about the industries which attract you. Research and delve into the challenges of our partner companies, as well as how to solve those challenges. Putting some time into learning about the partner companies shows you are committed to adding value.
All nationalities are welcome to apply.
Yes, we welcome applications from People of Determination.
Placements with specific partners cannot be guaranteed due to the nature of the programme, though we do ask for your preferences and interests. We are committed to providing meaningful placement opportunities for associates and this requires careful coordination with our partners. If your preferred partner does not have the right placement for you at the time placement assignments are being made, we will find alternatives – we will not shoehorn you in to a placement that is not the right fit.
The end goal of the placement is for you to gain practical experience and learn about Dubai’s business world in a significant and impactful way. We encourage all applicants to select a few partners that interest them and to maintain flexibility and openness throughout the process. We are committed to a win-win for everyone involved.
While DBA is not a formal degree/diploma granting programme, associates receive a certificate acknowledging their completion of the programme. Associates also have the option of applying for the prestigious Consulting Badge, which if awarded, can be placed in their LinkedIn profile to show employers they have the skills of a junior consultant.
While we recruit from top-tier universities around the world and maintain strong ties with university career centres for recruitment purposes, DBA is run independently of any affiliation with specific universities or colleges.
Yes, you are still eligible. Your marital status does not have an impact on your selection. However, the programme only sponsors the visa of the associate and does not sponsor or allow sponsorship of the visa of any dependents (spouse or kids). If your family is to accompany you, then they may do so on a tourist visa at your own cost. Please also note that the stipend is designed to only provide for 1 person not a family.
While there are no specific age restrictions, the DBA program is designed for people in the early stages of their careers.