A rigorous business education, tailored to the tourism opportunity in MENA
Tourism contributed an estimated $70 billion to the UAE economy in 2024, over 13% of national GDP, with the country welcoming more than 21 million international visitors a year. The Stern at NYUAD MBA is designed to put you at the center of that growth.
The organizations shaping MENA’s tourism future need more than operational expertise. They need leaders who can think strategically, manage complexity, and drive commercial outcomes across hospitality, culture, aviation, and entertainment.
The Stern at NYUAD One-year Full-time MBA is designed to develop precisely those capabilities, in a region built around global connectivity and visitor experience.
Why study at Stern at NYUAD?
Tourism sits at the heart of the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. The National Tourism Strategy 2031 targets a significant increase in the sector’s GDP contribution, while Abu Dhabi alone is targeting AED 62 billion in tourism contribution this year, a 13% increase on the previous year. Major cultural investments, including the Saadiyat Cultural District, Zayed National Museum, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, sit alongside continued expansion in hospitality, entertainment, and aviation infrastructure across the region.
For MBA graduates who understand both the commercial fundamentals of tourism and the regional context shaping it, the opportunity to lead in this sector has rarely been stronger.
Is this program for you?
- You have 2–8 years of professional experience and are looking to move into, or progress within, tourism, hospitality, or culture in MENA
- You want a business credential that will open doors across one of the region’s most strategically important growth sectors
- You are ready to commit to a one-year, full-time program
- You are ambitious about building your career in the UAE and wider MENA region
