GMU begins 2026–27 academic year with focus on healthcare education, research, innovation

Ajman, UAE: Gulf Medical University (GMU) has commenced the 2026–2027 academic year, welcoming new and returning students and faculty for another year of academic growth, research, innovation and advancement in health professions education.

The new academic year began on August 31, with a strong influx of students across the campus, reflecting continued demand for GMU’s health professions programmes.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University, said the university would continue to focus on academic excellence, research and innovation while preparing healthcare professionals to respond to changing healthcare needs.

“As we welcome our students and faculty to 2026–2027, our focus remains firmly on advancing academic excellence, strengthening research and innovation, and preparing healthcare professionals who are equipped to meet the changing needs of communities locally and globally. Our recent international recognitions reaffirm the quality of the work being done across GMU, but they also set a higher benchmark for what we aspire to achieve,” he said.

The opening of the academic year was marked by meetings and interactions involving the university leadership, deans and heads of its constituent colleges. Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, met with the deans as part of the academic year opening, while the Vice Chancellor and college heads reviewed academic priorities and plans for the year ahead.

GMU said the new academic year will focus on strengthening advanced healthcare sciences and foundational medical education while expanding areas including digital health, interdisciplinary learning, research and innovation.

The university’s academic year begins following significant international recognition. In June 2026, GMU was awarded institutional accreditation by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) following a comprehensive international quality review. The accreditation is valid until 2031. According to the university, the review found that GMU met all 10 European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, with no conditions.

GMU also maintained its position in the global 301–400 band in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026. It recorded a 23rd global ranking for Reduced Inequalities, 60th for Quality Education and 64th for Good Health and Well-being.

Founded in 1998 by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, GMU has evolved from Gulf Medical College into a comprehensive academic health system integrating education, healthcare and research.

The university currently operates seven colleges covering Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Nursing, Healthcare Management and Economics, along with the newly established Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare.

GMU said it currently offers 45 accredited programmes and has produced more than 5,000 graduates. Its campus has students from more than 111 nationalities, with faculty members representing 56 countries.

Clinical education is supported by more than 3,100 training beds across a network of seven academic hospitals owned by Thumbay Group. The university also has partnerships with more than 75 international universities.

According to GMU, it is the only private Academic Health System of its kind in the region and was ranked first among UAE universities by Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings for Good Health and Well-being in 2025.

As the new cohort begins its academic journey, the university said it would continue working towards creating an environment where students can develop their professional skills, engage in research and innovation, and contribute meaningfully to healthcare and the communities they serve.