Inaugural Executive MBA Dubai Cohort Graduates in Washington, D.C.

The first cohort of students in Georgetown’s Executive MBA (EMBA) in Dubai program recently graduated, marking the end of a transformative educational experience. Fifty-one graduates traveled across the globe to celebrate the completion of their degree in Washington, D.C. 

Launched in fall 2023, the EMBA Dubai program spans 20 months and equips senior decision-makers and executives with a deeper understanding of how to lead global organizations. Members of the Class of 2025 have an average of 10 years of management experience, representing an equal number of public and private entities including Emirates Airlines, the Executive Council of Dubai, Dubai Chambers, and Emirates NBD Bank. 

Abdulaziz Almulla (EMBA’25) said his time in the program has made him not only a more capable leader, but a more conscious one. 

“At Georgetown, I learned that leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice in the room,” Almulla said. “It’s about listening deeply, leading with empathy, and being brave enough to challenge the status quo. In one class, a professor said, ‘Leadership is service.’ That stuck with me. In every boardroom, negotiation, and strategy session since, I’ve carried that lesson with me.”

Almulla plans to bring his toolkit of advanced business strategies and sharpened sense of purpose into his roles as the managing director and CEO of the Dubai Investment Fund and a lecturer at Paris-Panthéon University. 

“The EMBA program strengthened my ability to lead high-performing, multicultural teams — an essential skill in an organization that operates at the intersection of local vision and global opportunity,” Almulla said. “I’ve learned to foster a culture of agility, integrity, and collaboration — values that are now central to the Fund’s mission under my leadership.”

Members of the Class of 2025 represent 12 different countries, reflecting the program’s alignment with today’s global marketplace. The curriculum is built on four key pillars: core foundations, regional expertise, future focus, and immersive experiences. One of the defining features of the program is its Global Business Experience (GBE) in Washington, D.C., where students consult with a U.S.-based organization and apply their regional expertise in a global context. 

When Kristina Luck (B’97, EMBA’25) looks back on her time in the program, one of her proudest moments was her team’s final presentation to the nonprofit they consulted for their GBE. 

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to manage time and priorities while balancing intense demands at work, in class, and at home,” she said. “I’ve also come to value the power of diverse teams, and how leaning into each other’s strengths can turn challenges into opportunities.”

Luck, Director of Luxury Leasing at Majid Al Futtaim, is eager to use the experiences and skills gained in the EMBA Dubai program to grow her impact as a leader.

“The program has broadened my thinking and sharpened my ability to lead through complexity and uncertainty,” Luck said. “Most of all, cura personalis has stuck with me — it’s a reminder to lead with empathy and stay grounded in what truly matters: people.”

As part of a tight-knit cohort, EMBA Dubai students are able to build valuable professional relationships that last long after their time in the program. Additionally, students are connected with a university-wide alumni network of more than 230,000 professionals, including 1,400 alumni in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA). 

“Over time, my classmates became close colleagues and trusted friends,” Almulla said. “I remember late nights debating strategies, early mornings fueled by determination, and moments of breakthrough that came not from textbooks, but from shared perspectives and hard-earned experiences.”

The inaugural graduating class of EMBA Dubai students marks not only a personal achievement for each graduate, but also an important milestone for the McDonough School of Business — the first graduating cohort from its new Dubai campus.

“Our presence in Dubai reflects our deepening commitment to the MENASA region and our belief in the transformative power of values-based education,” said Paul Almeida, dean and William R. Berkley Chair. “These inaugural graduates embody our vision of principled leadership, equipped to navigate complex global challenges with integrity, innovation, and purpose.”

Learn more about Georgetown’s Executive MBA in Dubai.