Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan* inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi Abu Dhabi campus on (Photo credit: @dpradhanbjp)
The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has officially inaugurated its first international campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on September 4, 2024. This historic moment signifies a significant leap in the academic partnership between India and the UAE. The opening ceremony was graced by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who also welcomed the first batch of 52 undergraduate students at the campus.
The first cohort of students, selected through the JEE Advanced examination and the newly-introduced Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET) for international applicants, will pursue degrees in Energy Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering. This strategic move is expected to boost IIT-Delhi’s global reputation while providing an opportunity for students to access world-class education in the heart of the Middle East.
Highlighting the event, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, praised this achievement, emphasizing that ‘brainpower’ is the most effective way to conquer the world, rather than firepower. His remarks echoed the significance of the collaboration, particularly as the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus becomes the first full-fledged overseas campus of an Indian institute of such global repute.
The newly-opened campus aims to maintain the high academic standards associated with IIT-Delhi, offering a broad range of courses with a particular focus on engineering, computer science, and energy. The curriculum is tailored to foster innovation and research, ensuring that students benefit from the same rigorous educational environment found at the IIT-Delhi main campus.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also underscored the importance of this new venture, stating that it strengthens the bond between India and the UAE. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pradhan noted, “The IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus symbolizes the India-UAE friendship and reflects our shared vision for leveraging knowledge, science, and technology to promote mutual and global prosperity. It aligns with PM Modi’s vision for the internationalisation of India’s education system.”
Further expanding on the academic collaboration, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed announced several key partnerships between IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi and leading UAE institutions, such as Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Zayed University. These alliances are expected to deepen the academic and research opportunities available to students, driving technological and educational advancements in the region.
With the establishment of the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus, India and the UAE are setting a new benchmark for international academic collaboration, reflecting a shared commitment to knowledge exchange and innovation.
