Doctorate of Business Administration

Business meeting in an office for five people

The DBA is a professional research degree, designed to support you and give you the skills you need to deliver unique solutions in your sector or organisation, based on accurate and unbiased analysis of situations.

Graduates of the DBA at Heriot-Watt University Dubai emerge as scholar-practitioners with the insight, credibility, and strategic foresight to thrive in today's global business landscape. Their research bridges theory and practice—producing real-world impact that drives innovation, transformation, and leadership strategy.

Through research forums, executive roundtables, and Heriot-Watt’s global network, graduates build visibility and influence—ensuring their ideas shape not only business practice but also wider policy and industry discourse.

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Difference between DBA and PhD

	PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)	DBA (Doctor of Business Administration)
Primary Purpose	Advance theory and fundamental knowledge	Advance practice through rigorous research
Orientation	Strongly academic	Strongly practice-led
Core Research Question	“What new theory can we develop or extend?”	“How can research solve or improve a real organisational problem?”
Contribution	Theoretical, conceptual, or methodological	Practical, applied, and impact-oriented (with theoretical grounding)
Audience	Academic scholars and journals	Senior leaders, policymakers, practitioners and academia
Candidate Profile	Early-career researchers; future academics	Senior managers, executives, consultants, policymakers
Professional Experience Required	Not essential	Essential (usually 5–10+ years)
Research Context	Often abstracted from specific organisations	Embedded in the candidate’s organisation/industry
Methodology	Often theory-driven; may be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed	Practice-driven; frequently qualitative or mixed-methods
Thesis Focus	Original theoretical contribution	Original contribution to professional practice
Typical Output	One large monograph or article-based thesis	Practice-oriented thesis with strong analytical rigour
Career Pathways	Academia, post-doc, research institutes	Executive leadership, consultancy, policy, executive education
Time Commitment	Usually full-time	Often part-time and structured for working professionals
Impact Emphasis	Scholarly impact (citations, theory building)	Organisational, societal, and policy impact
Identity of the Researcher	Researcher-scholar	Scholar-practitioner

Is there a difference in academic level?

A PhD and a DBA are doctoral‑level qualifications that sit at the same academic tier. Both demand equivalent intellectual rigour, confer the same “Dr” title, and require comparable levels of originality and critical analysis.

7 Reasons to Choose Our DBA

CAA-Accredited for Excellence and Global Recognition

Our DBA is accredited by the UAE’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), reflecting its high academic standards and global alignment — perfect for professionals seeking both regional and international recognition.

Expert Supervision with Real-World Insight

Candidates are supported by academic and industry-informed supervisors from Heriot-Watt’s global campuses. Their guidance ensures your research is both theoretically strong and practically impactful—connecting scholarship with real business challenges.

International Reach Through a Multinational University Network

As part of a university with campuses in Dubai, Edinburgh, and Malaysia, the programme offers rich global exposure. Cross-campus engagement and diverse perspectives help shape research that’s relevant across cultures and industries.

Designed for Senior Leaders, with Maximum Flexibility

Tailored for executives, the part-time, blended format lets you balance rigorous doctoral study with ongoing leadership responsibilities—supported by structured research tools and flexible delivery

Transformational Research with Executive Impact

The DBA empowers you to tackle complex, strategic challenges within your organisation or sector, producing actionable insights that shape boardroom decisions, policy directions, and industry innovations.

Thought Leadership & Research Visibility

Candidates participate in Heriot-Watt’s research conferences and symposia—platforms that build academic presence, foster peer feedback, and elevate professional visibility among thought leaders.

Network Access & Industry Influence

Beyond research, the DBA offers access to a dynamic network through speaker series, alumni events, and industry partnerships—connecting candidates to key decision-makers and influencers

Apply to the DBA programme

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Unlock Career Paths and Industry Engagement

Gain access to an array of high-level career opportunities across sectors and continents. Graduates are equipped to advance into senior executive roles such as CEO, COO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Director of Innovation or Sustainability. Others transition into board-level positions, public policy roles, or establish themselves as independent consultants and thought leaders in their fields.

For those seeking to enter academia, the DBA offers a robust foundation for university-level teaching and research, with many graduates taking on lecturer, professor, or research fellow positions in global institutions.

Leverage Real-World Connections

The programme’s strength lies not only in its academic rigor but in its deep industry integration. Through collaborations with multinational corporations, regional banks, policy institutions, and consultancies, students gain real-world insights and opportunities to apply their research directly to live challenges. Industry experts are regularly invited for guest lectures, executive workshops, and research panels, enriching the learning experience with current market perspectives.

Hear from our Programme Director

The Heriot-Watt DBA in Dubai is a strategically positioned programme that blends academic excellence with real-world impact. Backed by CAA accreditation and delivered by a truly global university with campuses in Dubai, Edinburgh, and Malaysia, our flexible online format empowers senior professionals to pursue world-class doctoral research without pausing their careers. It’s a unique opportunity to lead, influence, and innovate on a global scale.
Dr Petya Koleva
DBA Programme Director, Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Edinburgh Business School - Dubai

The Edinburgh Business School in Dubai specialises in research and industry-informed undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.