DUBAI, UAE: 12 May, 2010 - A recognition ceremony for the third graduating class of London Business School's Dubai-London Executive MBA Programme was held this week at the 'Centre of Excellence' in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

77 students, representing 26 nationalities and 13 industry sectors were awarded the Dubai-London Executive MBA degrees.  The recognition ceremony was attended by Professor Sir Andrew Likierman, Dean of London Business School; Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO, DIFC Authority and Professor Naufel Vilcassim, recipient of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Professorship of Innovation, and Faculty Director in Dubai.

London Business School's Dubai-London Executive MBA Programme is delivered out of the DIFC Centre of Excellence, a subsidiary of DIFC.

Professor Sir Andrew Likierman, Dean of London Business School, said, "We are delighted to be recognising the graduation of another class of students from our Dubai campus.  Since its opening in 2006 our Dubai Centre has seen hundreds of ambitious students from all over the world pass through its doors and we look forward to its continued success as our links with Dubai prosper even further."

Professor Naufel Vilcassim added: "It is a pleasure to be back here to witness the achievements of so many students and we extend our congratulations to them. Their hard-work throughout the programme will now pay off as they go on to apply their enhanced knowledge and skills to their chosen field and become the leaders of the future."

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of the DIFC Authority said: "By offering the Dubai - London Executive MBA programme from the DIFC Centre of Excellence, London Business School has provided business professionals in the region with access to truly global learning experiences. Such opportunities are vital to the creation of a new breed of business leaders who can both lead the region through the challenges of transition and help it take advantage of the new opportunities brought by change. I would like to congratulate the business professionals graduating today. I am confident that their EMBA experience will enable them to add significant value not only to their careers but also to the businesses and economies they serve."

The recognition ceremony for the Dubai-London Executive MBA Programme follows an intensive 18-month programme of study, based on a series of four-day modules taught at the DIFC Centre of Excellence by the School's world-class faculty visiting from London.  An elective phase of study is delivered principally in London. The ceremony marks the third graduation of students since the School first launched its programme in Dubai almost four years ago.

London Business School offers world-class business and management education to professionals in Dubai and the Middle East.  The School opened doors to its campus at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in December 2006.  The Dubai-London Executive MBA programme, created in response to the growing demand for business education in the region, reflects the School's strong commitment to the Middle East.  The programme is designed for managers and executives who already have substantial professional experience behind them. The intake represents a range of exceptional, experienced people who can both contribute to and benefit from the programme.

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 London Business School 
London Business School's purpose is to deliver insights and leaders that have impact. The School is ranked number one in the world for both full-time and executive MBA programmes*. In research, the School is ranked within the global top ten* and holds the highest average research score of any UK academic institution**.

The School's faculty, from over 30 countries, is grouped into seven subject areas - Accounting; Economics; Finance; Management Science and Operations; Marketing; Organisational Behaviour; and Strategic and International Management.

Studying at the School provides access to an unmatched diversity of thought. With a presence in four international cities - London, New York, Hong Kong and Dubai - the School is well positioned to equip students from more than 130 countries with the capabilities needed to operate in today's business environment. Students further benefit from our 28,000 alumni who provide a wealth of knowledge, business experience and worldwide networking opportunities.

The School awards 1,000 degrees every year, across MBA, Executive MBA, Masters in Finance, Sloan Fellow and PhD programmes and has most recently added Masters in Management to its portfolio. The Executive Education team offers a portfolio of over 30 open programmes as well as custom-designed programmes developed to meet the specific needs of individuals and their organisation. Annually, over 8000 participants attend executive programmes which are led by many of the world's leading business thinkers.
www.london.edu

About DIFC
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just five years, over 850 firms have registered at DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.

For PR inquiries , please contact:
Katherine Lakeland, Press Officer, London Business SchoolE: klakeland@london.edu
T: +44 (0)20 7000 7112
Becki Willis, Four Communications
E: londonbusinessschool@fourcommunications.com
T: 00971 55 980 1125

Amira Abdulla
Director - Regional Public Relations
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2433
Email: amira.abdulla@difc.ae

Shaima Al Zarouni
Assistant PR Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2432
E-mail: shaima.alzarouni@difc.ae

Iman Ahmad
Regional Media Relations Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2685
E-mail: iman.ahmad@difc.ae

© Press Release 2010