The University of Manchester Middle East Centre and Dubai Real Estate Institute sign Strategic Talent Partnership

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre and Dubai Real Estate Institute sign Strategic Talent Partnership to broaden access to development opportunities for industry professionals 

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre and Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) have signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to collaborate on higher education, training, and development opportunities for professionals working across the regional real estate industry, as part of the University’s Strategic Talent Partnership programme for the Middle East. The MoU was signed by Hend Al Marri, CEO of DREI, and Randa Bessiso, Director – Middle East, The University of Manchester. The University recently announced the launch of the part-time MSc Real Estate for working professionals in the region.



The University’s Strategic Talent Partnership (STP) programme provides a framework for active collaboration with professional and industry bodies as well as enterprises and other organisations. The new STP between DREI and the University will focus on promoting access to higher and professional education, including part-time MBA and MSc programmes, research opportunities, and live projects, supported by career services to enrich the learning experience for students of the University and DREI, while also creating professional networking opportunities in the Middle East region.



For the regional real estate sector, this new collaboration will provide additional learning opportunities for working professionals across the industry, from investors, developers, and brokers to managers and consultants. The University has a range of part-time, blended learning programmes, highly ranked and industry accredited, for working professionals leading to the award of internationally recognised qualifications. The University also has a very active regional programme of events and networking opportunities for students and alumni (all experienced working professionals) in the Middle East.

The University of Manchester recently launched a new part-time master’s degree in the Middle East for people working in the real estate industry and associated professional services, or working professionals with an interest in building a career in real estate. The MSc Real Estate programme is delivered in a part-time blended learning format, suitable for working professionals, with the opportunity to join regular face-to-face course conferences with faculty and peers in Dubai. The new programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and is taught by a team of leading academics experienced in the global real industry.



Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) is the leading institute in the Middle East and North Africa providing resources, curricula, courses, and advanced training programs in cooperation with internationally recognised universities, institutions and organisations with the aim of spreading knowledge, awareness and keeping abreast of developments in the real estate market.

Hend Al Marri, CEO, Dubai Real Estate Institute, said: “This MoU with the University of Manchester comes as a consolidation to our ambitions towards knowledge seekers who seek premier industry education. We are proud to be offering such resources to professionals who will improve upon their skills as well as help further uplift the emirate’s position on a global scale. By merging our programmes and expertise with those of the university, the sky is the limit for real estate practitioners across multiple fields who will gain vital insight into the sector, both regionally and internationally.”



Randa Bessiso, Director-Middle East, The University of Manchester, added: “We are delighted to sign this MoU with Dubai Real Estate Institute and we believe we can support the development of the regional industry through this collaboration and our range of programmes, including a new RICS-approved MSc in Real Estate Management. There is a broad range of professionals working in specialist roles and our aim would be to help the industry raise its performance across the regional community. The sector is also vital for the regional economy and this is an opportunity for professionals to upskill to meet the demands of the next wave of growth, develop their careers, and sustain their employability.”    

The University of Manchester Middle East Centre has supported more than 2,700 part-time MBA students based in the region and has graduated more than 1,700 students since opening in Dubai Knowledge Park in 2006, making it the largest and fastest growing centre in the University’s international network.



The Manchester Global Part-time MBA was awarded the ‘Best MBA Programme’ by Forbes Middle East in its inaugural Middle East Higher Education Awards. The University maintained its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings 2020, which lists The University of Manchester as the world’s 27th best university. QS university league tables also position the University at 6th in the UK and 8th in Europe, and part of the elite group of research-driven institutions.