Maryann Thomas

Arabian Gulf University

The Arabian Gulf University is a regional, public, higher education institution established in 1980 by the six Arab countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The University was established to offer programs that complement those offered by the national universities of member states and to address strategic needs of the region. The university at present has two colleges, the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, which offers a Problem-based learning MD program, in addition to several Master and PhD programs in medical sciences, and the College of Graduate Studies, which offers ten programs at the Master and PhD levels, in two main domains, special education, and technology. In addition, the university has the French Arabian Business School (FABS) that currently offers an 18-month MBA program in cooperation with the leading European business school, ESSEC. The university accepts students who are GCC nationals or Arabs resident in GCC countries. The current student population is about 1600, 65% of whom are females. The university is accredited by the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), and has recognized collaborations with global organizations, universities and the private sector.