Founded in 1995 as the first private institution of higher learning in Dubai, the American University in Dubai is one of the most recognized universities in the UAE – with Ministry of Education licensure and US accreditation (SACSCOC) for the institution, as well as the most prominent US-based professional accreditations for its academic programs: ABET (Engineering), AACSB (Business), NAAB (Architecture), NASAD (Visual Communication and Interior Design), CIDA (Interior Design) and ACEJMC (Communications and Information Studies).

AUD, a university known for its emphasis on effective teaching and the high rate of employability of its graduates, is pleased to be classified as Group II (“Very Good”) among research universities according to the UAE Ministry Classification of Higher Education Institutions.