University College London to Open Healthcare Business School in Dubai

What Happened

University College London (UCL) has announced plans to open a new institution called the UCL Global Business School for Health in Dubai Healthcare City. The school is expected to open in 2027 [1]. This project follows the establishment of a similar school in London in 2021 [1].

According to Professor Nora Colton, the founding director, the school is designed to address future healthcare needs, specifically regarding digital transformation and prevention [1]. The curriculum will utilize a hybrid model where staff from the London campus travel to Dubai once a month [1]. This model involves four days of intensive in-person learning per month, supplemented by online learning over a two-year period [1]. If the plan proceeds as intended, the school aims to introduce full-time, on-the-ground programmes by its third year [1].

The initial academic offerings will consist of three specific programmes:

• Digital health and entrepreneurship [1]
• Health and wellness management [1]
• Executive MBA Health [1]

For the first year, the school plans to select approximately 30 students for each of these three programmes [1]. Professor Colton stated that the quality of education and the facilities in Dubai will match those provided at the London campus [1].

This development follows the June launch of the Dubai Authority for Healthy Longevity, which seeks to establish the emirate as a leader in wellness and longevity sciences [1]. Additionally, the Next Generation Medicine (NGM) Congress 2026 is scheduled to take place from 7 to 10 November 2026 at Atlantis the Royal, Dubai [2]. This CME-accredited conference will host over 70 international experts, researchers, and investors from more than 20 countries to discuss precision medicine and regenerative therapies [2].

Who Is Affected

• Prospective students interested in digital health, wellness management, or healthcare executive leadership [1].
• Healthcare professionals and researchers attending the NGM Congress 2026 in Dubai [2].
• The Dubai healthcare sector, as the school plans to seek long-term partnerships with local hospitals and start-ups [1].