The American University in Dubai (AUD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine (Penn Medicine) to establish the AUD School of Medicine in Dubai. This partnership aims to enhance medical education in the UAE by leveraging the expertise of Penn Medicine, ranked #3 among research-intensive medical schools in the United States.
The new partnership will see Penn Medicine and AUD collaborate in developing a curriculum for a Doctor of Medicine degree program that employs the best practices of U.S. medical education, tailored to the needs of the region. The program will educate and train medical students to become physicians who can deliver world-class healthcare in the UAE. Graduates of the program will advance to be agents of change in the field, both nationally and internationally.
Aligned with the UAE's national strategy to enhance healthcare sector capacity, the AUD-Penn Medicine partnership aims to meet the growing demand for medical professionals by training the next generation of doctors. This initiative will support the UAE Centennial Strategy’s focus on advancing health sciences education and contribute to Dubai's vision of becoming a global medical tourism hub. The new AUD School of Medicine will serve as a center for education and research, driving improvements in health outcomes and solidifying Dubai's position as a regional leader in the healthcare sector.
The partnership was formalized during a MOU signing ceremony staged at AUD on Thursday January 30, 2025, in the presence of HE Dr. Muhammad Al Mualla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Sameera Almulla, Acting Director of the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), along with members of the leadership team from AUD and Penn Medicine.
Commenting on the collaboration, AUD’s President, Dr. Kyle Long, said, “AUD’s mission is to advance society and the institution has been at the forefront of innovation in education in this region for 30 years. By partnering with the Perelman School of Medicine to establish a new School of Medicine at AUD, we continue that rich tradition, while also contributing to the UAE strategy for excellence in health sciences education, as a key pillar in becoming the best country in the world by 2071”.
Dr. Glen Gaulton, Vice Dean and Director, Center for Global Health at Penn Medicine, commented, “The alliance between the Perelman School of Medicine and the American University in Dubai represents a momentous step toward advancing medical education and healthcare capacity in the UAE. By combining Penn Medicine’s legacy of innovation in research, education, and patient care with AUD’s commitment to excellence and societal advancement, we are creating a program that reflects the best of both institutions”.
The introduction of the new program will be a major milestone in healthcare education in the country. The new School of Medicine will collaborate with top hospitals in Dubai and across the UAE to enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes, aligning with the National Policy for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles.
