The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM) was a Dubai-based higher-education institution specializing in hospitality and tourism management. It was established as part of Dubai’s broader effort to develop tourism and hospitality as strategic economic sectors and was associated with the Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based hospitality company within Dubai Holding. Through that connection, the academy operated within an environment linked to major properties such as Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and the Madinat Jumeirah complex. The academy opened its campus to undergraduate students in October 2001. It presented itself as a home-grown hospitality management university serving the Middle East and combined academic study with practical exposure to hotel, food-and-beverage, tourism, and service operations. Its principal undergraduate qualification was a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hospitality Management. The programme used experiential learning and incorporated two significant work placements: an internship after the first year and a management-level placement during the final term. This structure reflected the institution’s close relationship with the hospitality industry and its emphasis on preparing students for operational and managerial careers. EAHM expanded into postgraduate education during the first half of the 2000s. Its Master of International Hospitality Management combined a year of coursework in Dubai with an independent research project. The institution also offered short courses, executive education, professional training, and consultancy through its professional training and development activities. Topics included financial management, wine and beverage, food and beverage and restaurant management, customer service, marketing, operations, project management, and human resources. Some professional courses offered external or internationally recognized certifications, including programmes associated with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. The academy developed an academic association with École hôtelière de Lausanne, one of the best-known hospitality schools internationally. That relationship continued until 2019. EAHM’s programmes were accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education, and the institution held membership or accreditation relationships with the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education and the United Kingdom’s Institute of Hospitality. These affiliations supported its positioning as a specialist hospitality institution rather than a general-purpose university. Its Dubai campus was designed to provide a residential and resort-like learning environment. Facilities included student accommodation, a gym, swimming pool, multisport and tennis courts, recreation areas, prayer rooms, cafés, and restaurants. Guest accommodation was also available for people connected with the academy or the Jumeirah Group. The setting allowed students to experience elements of the service environment studied in their programmes while living and learning in a hotel-oriented institutional context. EAHM received international visibility through hospitality and leisure education rankings. It was listed ninth in the QS World University Rankings by subject for Hospitality and Leisure in 2024, after being listed thirteenth in 2023. These rankings were part of its external profile, although the academy’s primary role remained the education and professional development of hospitality personnel for the regional and international market. According to the institution’s public information, EAHM officially concluded operations on 28 July 2025 following a strategic decision and was permanently closed. The closure ended the academy’s operation as an active education provider. Individuals seeking information about academic records were directed to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education and Scientific Research. Because the institution is now closed, its former programmes, facilities, partnerships, rankings, and industry links are best understood as part of its historical record rather than current offerings.

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management was created in the context of Dubai’s late-1990s strategy to make tourism and hospitality central components of the emirate’s economic development. The institution was intended to build local and regional expertise for a rapidly expanding hotel, tourism, and leisure sector. It was connected to the Jumeirah Group and, through that relationship, to Dubai Holding and a portfolio of prominent hospitality assets. EAHM began delivering undergraduate education when its campus opened in October 2001. Its educational model combined classroom instruction with practical experience and was tailored to the operating needs of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tourism businesses. The academy’s Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hospitality Management used experiential learning and included an initial six-month internship after the first year, followed by a management-level internship during the final term. By 2005, the institution had introduced postgraduate education and its first groups of bachelor’s and associate-degree students had graduated. The academy subsequently offered the Master of International Hospitality Management. This was structured around one year of coursework in Dubai followed by an independent research project. Alongside degree programmes, EAHM developed continuing professional development, executive education, and consultancy activities. Its training portfolio covered financial management, wine and beverage, food and beverage and restaurant management, customer service, marketing, operations management, project management, and human resources. Certain courses offered internationally recognized credentials, including programmes linked to the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. An academic association with École hôtelière de Lausanne contributed to the academy’s international orientation and continued until 2019. EAHM also held recognition or membership relationships with the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education and the Institute of Hospitality. Its programmes were accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education. These arrangements helped establish the academy as a specialized hospitality school with regional relevance and international academic links. The campus provided residential and recreational infrastructure intended to support a service-oriented educational experience. Students had access to accommodation, fitness and sports facilities, a swimming pool, recreation rooms, prayer rooms, cafés, and restaurants. Guest accommodation was available to people affiliated with the academy or Jumeirah Group. The campus environment complemented the institution’s emphasis on applied hospitality education. EAHM’s external profile included recognition in subject-based university rankings. It was reported as thirteenth in the QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure in 2023 and ninth in 2024. The institution therefore remained visible internationally during its final operating period, even though its core activity was specialized professional and academic education rather than broad university research. The academy officially concluded its operations on 28 July 2025 after a strategic decision. It was subsequently described as permanently closed. The closure ended the institution’s delivery of degree programmes, executive education, and professional training. Former students and other record holders were directed to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for academic-record inquiries.

• 2025

  Operations conclude

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  EAHM officially ended operations on 28 July 2025 following a strategic decision and subsequently became permanently closed.

• 2024

  QS Hospitality and Leisure ranking improvement

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The academy was reported as ranked ninth in the QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure.

• 2023

  QS Hospitality and Leisure ranking

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  EAHM was reported as ranked thirteenth in the QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure.

• 2019

  End of association with École hôtelière de Lausanne

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The academy’s academic association with École hôtelière de Lausanne ended after having supported its international hospitality-education profile.

• 2005

  Postgraduate education and first graduations

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  By 2005, EAHM had introduced a postgraduate programme and its first bachelor’s and associate-degree cohorts had graduated.

• 2001

  Campus opens for undergraduate education

  [1]The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org

  The academy opened its Dubai campus in October 2001 and began delivering undergraduate hospitality management programmes.

A specialist hospitality and tourism management institution combining academic programmes, applied industry experience, executive education, and professional training in a Dubai hospitality environment.

• Undergraduate degree

  Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hospitality Management

  A three-year undergraduate programme focused on international hospitality management. The course used experiential learning and included a six-month internship after the first year, followed by a final management-level internship. Its subject areas were designed to prepare students for operational and managerial roles across hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourism businesses, and related service organizations.

• Postgraduate degree · 2005

  Master of International Hospitality Management

  A postgraduate programme consisting of one year of coursework in Dubai followed by an independent research project. It provided advanced study in international hospitality management for students and professionals seeking analytical, supervisory, or strategic careers in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

• Professional education

  Professional Training and Development

  A portfolio of short courses, executive programmes, certifications, and consultancy services for hospitality professionals and other learners. Topics included financial management, wine and beverage, food and beverage and restaurant management, customer service, marketing, operations, project management, and human resources. Some courses provided internationally recognized certification pathways.

• 2025

  Strategic decision to close the academyStrategy

  Background

  The institution announced that it would conclude operations after operating as a specialist hospitality management school in Dubai for more than two decades.

  Action taken

  EAHM officially ceased operations on 28 July 2025 and was permanently closed.

  Aftermath

  Academic-record inquiries were redirected to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, while the academy’s degree, executive, and professional programmes ended.

  Source

1. 1The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Managementen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management official websiteemiratesacademy.edu