The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This significant development marks a new chapter in IIFT’s 62-year history and reinforces India’s growing role in global education, particularly in the field of international trade and business.
The proposed campus at Expo City, Dubai, is being set up with the approval of the Ministry of Education and after receiving No Objection Certificates (NoC) from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the University Grants Commission (UGC). The project is still subject to final clearances from the UAE authorities and compliance with host country regulations.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, congratulating IIFT on the milestone, said, “This truly reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, marking a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indian education and its growing role in shaping thought leadership globally. It is also a testament to the strengthening India-UAE partnership, and this new campus will play a pivotal role in moulding the business leaders of tomorrow.”
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s a turning point in the 62 years of IIFT’s history that the institute is setting up a full-fledged campus in Dubai. It represents India’s emergence as a country that provides world-class education especially in the field of International Trade.”
Professor Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of IIFT, extended his gratitude to all supporting ministries and bodies. “We are committed to transforming IIFT into a world-class institute. Our new campus in Dubai will focus on excellence in research, training, and education in the field of international trade. I thank the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy in UAE, UGC and all those who have extended their consistent support in making IIFT’s Dubai campus a reality,” he said.
While granting approval, the Ministry of Education also laid out certain conditions for the functioning of the offshore campus. These include obtaining necessary financial and regulatory approvals from both Indian and UAE authorities, maintaining academic standards equivalent to the main New Delhi campus, and ensuring there is no diversion of faculty, infrastructure, or financial resources from the home campus. The remittance of funds will be regulated under Reserve Bank of India norms and Ministry of Finance guidelines.
The Ministry also mandated that IIFT “shall maintain standards of education as prescribed by the UGC or Statutory Authorities concerned at the Dubai Off-Shore Campus and shall not involve or engage in any such activity that may result in lowering in any way the prestige and reputation of Indian Higher Education”.
Further, IIFT must disclose full details of the offshore campus on its website and ensure that any amendments to its Memorandum of Understanding with partnering organisations in Dubai are reported to the ministries concerned.
Once operational, the Dubai campus is expected to serve both the Indian diaspora and global student community in the Gulf region, offering a curriculum and academic experience aligned with that of the New Delhi campus. The campus is envisaged as a strategic hub for nurturing business leaders equipped with Indian values and an international outlook.
