Students in the Gulf nation will now be able to study for a Stirling-administered degree, without leaving the country.

“I believe Stirling will make a significant contribution to the education ecosystem”

The campus is located in the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, an area of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate designed as an investment analysis and business hub, including a free trade zone. The emirate is the northernmost region of the UAE, with borders to Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Both undergraduate and postgraduate management courses will be offered at the campus, with bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance, and a master’s in Investment Analysis among the first fields of study to be launched.

The campus is expected to open in September 2018.

The campus is not the first academic institution to open in the RAKEZ, as the Economic Zone is known, but the Emirati organisation has lauded the Scottish HEI’s arrival.

“I’m very pleased to welcome the University of Stirling to the growing family of universities, schools and colleges we have at RAKEZ Academic Zone. Within the UK, it has earned a reputation for excellence in a number of key areas, which I believe will make a significant contribution to Ras Al Khaimah’s education ecosystem and enrich the community within our Academic Zone,” said Ramy Jallad, group CEO of RAKEZ.

Stirling’s vice-chancellor Gerry McCormac spoke of the “pride” felt by the university, in a statement sent to the press.

“[We are] proud to offer students the opportunity to gain University of Stirling, UK degrees while studying in the United Arab Emirates.

“We are proud of our vibrant, diverse and international community of students and look forward to welcoming them into our global Stirling family,” he said.