Brazil2024 class of Dubai Business Associates program kicks off
The ninth cohort of the Dubai Business Associates program has kicked off, with 28 professionals from 20 different nationalities commencing their nine-month journey into corporate consultancy.
Known to be one of the most competitive graduate programs in the Middle East, over 12,500 graduates sent in their application, with only 0.22% ultimately selected. The lucky few come from places around the world, including Brazil, France, Poland, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe.
“In the coming year, they will gain practical experience at leading Dubai companies and organisations, complemented by top-tier theoretical training,” said Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of The Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai.
Operated under the patronage of the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the fully funded program enables graduates to transition from “talented young graduates to future global leaders.”
Advancing career skills through learning & development is an integral part of the curriculum. Graduates (known as ‘Associates’) are provided training courses on topics including management and business theory, interpersonal skills, and advanced consulting. Alongside physical and online training courses, they are guided by a series of masterclasses conducted by industry leaders and benefit from personalised coaching.
After initially learning the fundamentals of consulting, Associates embark on a 12-week placement with partner organisations – these include Digital Dubai Authority, Emirates, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Emirates Literature Foundation.
Towards the end of the program, Associates showcase the skills they learned during a final presentation where they deliver a consulting project addressing a real-life business challenge to the senior leadership teams at their respective placements.
“I look forward to witnessing how this year’s cohort will flourish and develop their world-class business skills here in Dubai and what they will produce with their new found skills and experience,” said Al Shaibani.
The program is delivered in collaboration with PwC (a global consulting firm), Bon Education (a designer of education programs), and CAPADEV (a capability development specialist).
Upon completion of the program, the 28 professionals will venture out to all kinds of organisations. A relative sizeable number of alumni end up in management consulting, with the likes of McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Kearney and Strategy& keen recruiters of graduated professionals.
