Royal Roads University Celebrates Grand Opening of its First MENA Campus in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Date: 28/04/2025
Royal Roads University Celebrates Grand Opening of its First MENA Campus in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE – Royal Roads University (RRU), a leading Canadian public university, celebrated the official inauguration of its first international branch campus in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, on 28 April 2025. The historic ceremony marked a significant milestone—RRU became the first Canadian university to establish a campus in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), expanding access to world-class Canadian post-secondary education throughout the region.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Sharjah Consultative Council and Former UAE Minister, and Mr. Tracy Reynolds, Consul General of Canada to the UAE, alongside Dr. Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads University, Dr. William Holmes, Professor of the School of Leadership and Management at RRU, Mr. Vinit Rughani, Director of BIG Education Group, Mr. Nirmal Shah, Director of BIG Education Group, Dr. Alastair Summerlee Chair & CEO The Ottawa Education Group and Mr. Harry Sharma, President and COO, The Ottawa Education Group.
The event commenced with the national anthems of the UAE and Canada, symbolizing the strong bilateral ties and collaborative spirit behind this initiative. Dr. Philip Steenkamp, Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Mr. Tracy Reynolds, Dr. William Holmes, Dr. Alastair Summerlee, and Mr. Vinit Rughani unveiled a symbolic plaque to formally mark the campus’s opening.
In his address, Dr. Philip Steenkamp highlighted RRU’s commitment to applied learning and its vision for developing future leaders through its unique learning, teaching, and research model. His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi spoke on the campus’s significance for the UAE’s educational landscape, and Mr. Tracy Reynolds emphasized the importance of Canadian transnational education. The ceremony also included an address from Mr. Hussein AL Shamaa, Director Licensing & Compliance, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge, underscoring their vision & support extended to RRU.
A highlight of the event was a student address by Ms. Hermela Alemu Tolcha, an inaugural student from Ethiopia enrolled in one of RRU RAK’s bachelor’s programs, who shared her aspirations for studying at the new campus.
The program also featured an insightful fireside chat titled, ‘Building Future Leaders – The Vision of RRU-RAK,’ moderated by Mr. Lameen Abdul-Malik, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner (2005), with Dr. Philip Steenkamp. The discussion explored strategies for developing leaders in the context of the region.
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Maurey Bond, Dean of the Royal Roads University RAK Campus, acknowledging all attendees and partners. This was followed by a networking lunch reception, which provided guests with an opportunity for further engagement.
The Royal Roads University Ras Al Khaimah campus will offer a range of applied, professional graduate and undergraduate programs tailored to the evolving needs of students and industries in the UAE and broader MENA region. These include its premier MBA and BBA degrees, now available locally to deliver Canadian business excellence.
About Royal Roads University: Royal Roads University is a public university located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Known for its distinctive blended learning model and focus on applied, professional programs, RRU is dedicated to providing life-changing experiences that develop leaders who can navigate complexity and drive positive change.
