MODUL University Dubai

MODUL University Dubai was established in 2016 as a branch campus of MODUL University Vienna, Austria’s leading international private university with a strong heritage in tourism, hospitality, and sustainable development education.

The Dubai campus opened in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) within the Jumeirah Lakes Towers area, occupying a 22,000 square foot space at ONE JLT. Founded through a collaboration between Dubai Investments and the DACH Advisory Group, MODUL University Dubai was the first Austrian university to operate in the Middle East.

The university offered degree programs taught in English, focusing on business, tourism, hospitality, sustainability, public governance, new media technologies, entrepreneurship, and leadership, maintaining academic quality assurance aligned with both Austrian and UAE educational authorities.

MODUL University's brand is tied to the MODUL Tourism College in Vienna, established in 1908, known for its distinctive modular honeycomb architectural design, which inspired the university’s name.

MODUL University Dubai aimed to deliver applied research and practice-oriented education, bridging academia and industry to prepare students for careers in the global tourism and hospitality sectors and related fields. The campus featured modern facilities, including high-speed lifts, security systems, prayer rooms, and bicycle parking, supporting a conducive environment for learning.

Despite its promising start and international accreditations including those from the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) and Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) of Dubai, MODUL University Dubai's license to operate was revoked by the UAE Ministry of Education in October 2020, leading to the campus's closure.

Throughout its operation, the university emphasized sustainability, innovation, and integration with Dubai’s business and tourism environment. Its research center, the Centre for Sustainability through Research and Education (CSRE), played a key role in maintaining its research-driven and community-oriented mission.

MODUL University Dubai's establishment marked a significant extension of Austria’s educational exports into the Gulf region, leveraging Vienna’s expertise and heritage in tourism education while addressing the rapidly growing tourism industry and higher education demand in the UAE.