Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai (RIT Dubai), based in Dubai Silicon Oasis, held the graduation ceremony for its 15th cohort under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).

The ceremony took place at Dubai World Trade Centre and honored 394 graduates across 16 undergraduate and master’s programmes. Attendees included senior government officials, academic leaders, members of RIT Dubai’s Board of Directors, and representatives from the public and private sectors.

Among those present were Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai; Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of DIEZ; Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World and Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre; Robert Raines, U.S. Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates; and Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai.

In remarks during the ceremony, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said the graduation reflects Dubai’s focus on developing talent capable of supporting a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and advanced technologies. He said the university’s role aligns with the UAE Centennial 2071 strategy and the “We the UAE 2031” vision.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni said the partnership between DIEZ and RIT Dubai supports efforts to build an economic ecosystem that combines investment, education, and innovation. He added that Dubai Silicon Oasis continues to serve as a hub for knowledge, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Yousef Al Assaf said the graduating class reflects the university’s expanding academic portfolio and its focus on programmes aligned with evolving labor market demands. He noted that this year marked the graduation of the university’s first cohort of psychology students.

The graduating class represented nine bachelor’s programmes and seven master’s programmes, including engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, finance, smart cities, and futures foresight.

Since its establishment in 2010, RIT Dubai has graduated more than 2,490 students across bachelor’s, master’s, and diploma programmes.

The university also announced the introduction of new undergraduate programmes in Management Information Systems and Advertising & Public Relations, as well as accredited micro-master’s programmes in Health Informatics and Futures Foresight.

Future plans include launching a master’s programme in Integrated Design, a bachelor’s programme in Computer Engineering, and additional micro-programmes in accounting and financial analytics.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Andrew Shelepnytsky

Andrew Shelepnytsky is an Editor of Dubai Voice.