The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is set to establish its first international campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone in India’s higher education expansion under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, highlighting the move as a key step towards the internationalisation of Indian education.
Founded in 1963, IIFT has been a premier institution in international business and trade studies. Until now, the institute has operated through its primary campuses in Delhi and Kolkata, offering a range of postgraduate, executive, and doctoral programmes. The Dubai initiative will be the first overseas venture in its six-decade history.
The proposal for the Dubai campus has received formal clearances from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the University Grants Commission (UGC), signalling a strong inter-ministerial support for globalising Indian academic institutions.
The Dubai campus is expected to replicate IIFT’s academic excellence with programmes designed for both global learners and the Indian diaspora in the Gulf region. It will offer full-time and executive education courses tailored to regional market needs and global trade dynamics.
IIFT’s academic portfolio includes the flagship MBA in International Business, an MA in Economics with a focus on Trade and Finance, Executive Diplomas, and doctoral programmes. These courses typically require candidates to clear national-level entrance tests followed by group discussions and interviews. Similar standards of admission are anticipated at the Dubai centre to maintain consistency in academic quality.
This international expansion aligns with India’s broader goal of integrating education with diplomacy and soft power. The Dubai campus is expected to function as a strategic hub for advanced business education, research, and training, supporting the global outreach of Indian higher education institutions.
With operations set to begin soon, IIFT’s Dubai campus is poised to become a centre for excellence in international business studies, contributing to India’s vision of creating world-class institutions with a global footprint.
