Ajman University Executive Education (AUEE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Eller Executive Education (EEE) at the University of Arizona to bring the Generative AI Leadership Accelerator (GALA) program to the UAE. The agreement marks the first time the flagship U.S. program will be delivered in the Middle East.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, and Dr. Joe Carella, Chief Learning Officer, on behalf of Eller Executive Education. It establishes a framework for delivering executive education in generative AI and building AI leadership capability across government and industry.
The UAE edition has been designed specifically for the region, incorporating UAE and GCC case studies, regional data and governance considerations, and capstone projects drawn from participants' own organizations.
Three tiers of leadership training
The GALA program is structured across three distinct but interconnected layers, allowing participants to enter at the level that matches their roles. The first tier, AI Strategy and Governance, is a two-day, 12-hour executive intensive for C-suite leaders. The second, Leading Enterprise AI Transformation, is a two-day, 12-hour program for executives and directors responsible for translating AI ambition into coordinated enterprise-wide change.
The third tier, AI Implementation and Innovation, is a three-day, 18-hour applied program for senior managers who move AI initiatives from strategy into implementation and measurable operational outcomes. Participation options include individual enrollment, leadership teams, and dedicated organization-wide cohorts.
Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, said: "Artificial intelligence is reshaping not only what organizations can do, but also the decisions leaders are required to make. The UAE has set a clear ambition to lead in AI, and realizing that ambition requires leaders who can govern responsibly, translate strategy into institutional change, and deliver measurable value."
Justin Dutram, Senior Director and CEO of Eller Executive Education, said the program equips executives with "actionable insights to navigate AI strategy, implementation, and organizational transformation." He added that the partnership helps organizations "move beyond understanding AI to harnessing its potential to drive innovation, strengthen competitive advantage, and create sustainable value."
The program sits squarely within the Generative AI and LLM space, with a curriculum built around practical application rather than technical theory. It also addresses a gap many organizations face: leaders who understand AI for Executives & Strategy but lack the governance frameworks to deploy it responsibly.
Regional context
The UAE has made AI adoption a national priority, and organizations across the region increasingly need leaders who can determine where AI should be used, establish governance and accountability, guide institutional change, and ensure implementation creates measurable value. The GALA program's regional design responds directly to that need.
Executives and organizations can register their interest at the AUEE GALA program page to receive the full brochure. Program inquiries go to executive.education@ajman.ac.ae.
Why this matters for education professionals
If you work in education, this program signals where executive learning is heading: shorter, tiered, regionally adapted, and tied to participants' own organizational problems. The three-level structure - strategy, transformation, implementation - offers a template for how professional development can be segmented by role rather than delivered as a one-size-fits-all course. For education leaders considering AI curriculum design, GALA's blend of U.S. faculty expertise with UAE and GCC case studies is a concrete example of localization done at the program level, not just the marketing level.
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