Governance

Board of Trustees Members

The Canadian University Dubai Board of Trustees leads the institution’s strategic development, directed by our guiding principle: to deliver a world-class Canadian higher education experience in the UAE.

Alongside the University’s founders, we are privileged to have amongst our Board some of Canada’s most notable higher education experts and policy makers, who guide us in our pursuit of excellence.

Message from the President

Canadian University Dubai was founded as a visionary initiative. In pursuit of academic excellence and determined to leverage the diverse North American and European learning culture, the University is committed to providing a range of opportunities in education, research and professional development. The curriculum, teaching methods and support services are delivered by experienced and enthusiastic Canadian and European faculty, who teach programs that suit learners' needs, to enter a dynamic labour market.

Canadian University Dubai has joined with a panel of globally renowned education and corporate institutions to provide exciting opportunities for intelligent and deserving students to progress and grow. The University offers a wide spectrum of education choices for learners to carve a niche in their respective fields, complemented by opportunities to hone their practical skills, through ultra-modern technology spread across its campus buildings, classrooms, laboratories and electronic facilities.

Canadian University Dubai is licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research — UAE.

Mr. Buti Saeed Al Ghandi

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Emirates Investment and Development PSC, UAE

Mr. Abdulla Mohd Obaidallah

Board of Directors Member

Emirates Investment and Development PSC, UAE

Mr. Ali Rashid Al Mazroei

Group Director and Chief Executive Officer

Bahri & Mazroei Group

Prof. Karim Chelli

President & Vice-Chancellor

Canadian University Dubai

Hon. Sheila Copps Pc Oc

Former Heritage Minister

Environment Minister & Deputy PM of Canada

Hon. Aldea Landry

Former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Premier

Province of New Brunswick, Canada

Hon. John Baird

Former Member

Canadian House of Commons & Minister of Foreign Affairs

Honourable George J. Furey

Former 45th Speaker of the Senate of Canada

Dr. Denis Lapalme

Psychologist

Laurentian University & Ontario Provincial Police

University Senate Members

Name	Title
Dr. Karim Chelli	President and Vice-Chancellor/Acting VPAA
Dr. Ibrahim Tabche	Acting Dean of School of Management
Dr. Osama Atayah	Associate Professor and Program Director of MBA
Dr. Ossama Khassawneh	Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of HR and Caretaker of Entrepreneurship and Management
Prof. Farooq Haq FH	School Representative, School of Management
Dr. Mohamed Abdelhakim	Program Coordinator for e-Business & Business Analytics Programs
Dr. Agata Stachowicz-Stanusch	School Representative, School of Management
Dr. Ikhlaas Gurrib	Professor and Program Coordinator of Finance
Dr. Soumaya Askri	Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Marketing and International Business
Dr Syed Ahmad Zamberi	DBA Program Director
Dr. Aseel Takshe	Acting Dean, School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Dr. Wissam Ghach	Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Dr. Efthymios Papatzikis	Professor, School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Mr. Massimo Imparato	Dean of School of Architecture and Interior Design
Ms. Sophie Johnson	Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Interior Design
Ms. Simona Azzali	Acting Head of Department, Architecture
Dr. Maha Salman	School Representative, School of Architecture and Interior Design
Dr. Sherif Moussa	Dean of School of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology
Dr. Tamer Mohamed Abdellatif Mohamed	Assistant Professor and Chair of Cyber Security
Dr. Khaled Goher	Chair of Electrical Engineering
Dr. Yasir Faheem	Coordinator of MSc. In Artificial Intelligence Program
Dr. Robert McClung	Dean of First Year Students/Acting Dean of School of Communication and Creative Industries
Dr. Khouloud Alnounoukh	School Representative, First Year, University Level & General Education
Dr. Taghreed Masri	School Representative, First Year, University Level & General Education
Dr. Kiray Khoury	Program Coordinator, Communication department
Ms. Chloe Bennet	Chair of Creative Industries Department
Dr. Adam Fenech	Canada Research Chair, Culture of Work Committee Member
Pr. Christopher Hill	Vice President, Global Engagement
Dr. Rami El Khatib	Vice President Student Services
Shaima Alhai	President, Student Council
Mr. Yusri Ibrahim	Senior Administration Manager of Human Resources and Administration
Mr. Quraish Alharahsheh	Director of Facilities and Administration
Mr. Aftab Khan	Director, ICT
Mr. Joseph Aninias	Director of Enterprise Architecture
Mr. Raman Malpani	Manager -- Treasury and MIS
Mr. Mohammad Elmoshnib	Registrar

Academic Council Members

Name	Title
Dr. Karim Chelli	President and Vice-Chancellor/Acting VPAA
Dr. Sherif Moussa	Dean of School of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology
Mr. Massimo Imparato	Dean of School of Architecture and Interior Design
Dr. Aseel Takshe	Acting Dean, School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Dr. Kiray Khoury	Program Coordinator, Communication department
Dr. Ibrahim Tabche	Acting Dean of School of Management
Dr. Robert McClung	Dean of First Year Students/Acting Dean of School of Communication and Creative Industries
Dr. Yasir Faheem	Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Cyber Security
Dr. Haytham El Messiry	Associate Professor and Program Director of MSc AI
Dr. Tamer Mohamed Abdellatif Mohamed	Assistant Professor and Chair of Cyber Security
Ms. Chloe Bennet	Chair of Creative Industries Department
Ms. Sophie Johnson	Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Interior Design
Dr. Soumaya Askri	Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Marketing and International Business
Dr. Mohammed Abdulhakim Nuruldeen	Professor and Program Coordinator of E-Business and MITM
Dr. Osama Atayah	Associate Professor and Program Director of MBA
Dr. Ikhlaas Gurrib	Professor and Program Coordinator of Finance
Dr. Ossama Khassawneh	Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of HR and Caretaker of Entrepreneurship and Management
Mr. Mohammad Elmoshnib	Registrar
Dr. Anwar Muhammad Abaidullah	Dean of IRP and Acting Managing Director of ICT
Mrs. Menchie Armillo	Director, LRC
Mr. Aftab Khan	Director, ICT
Dr. Rami El Khatib	Vice President Student Services
Pr. Christopher Hill	Vice President, Global Engagement
Ms. Shaima Alhai	Student Council President/Vice President

Senior Management Committee

Name	Title
Dr. Abdelkrim Chelli	President and Vice-Chancellor/Chairperson
Ms. Fatima Al-Sakkaf	Legal Counsel
Mr. Mohammed Elmoshnib	Registrar
Dr. Mohammed Djeddi	Academic Chief Strategy Officer (Corporate Office)
Dr. Sherif Moussa	Dean, School of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Technology
Dr. Ibrahim Tabche	Dean, School of Management
Dr. Aseel Takshe	Acting Dean, School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Ms. Chloe Bennett	Chair of Creative Industries
Mr. Joseph Aninias	Director of Enterprise Architecture
Mr. Raman Malpani	Manager -- Treasury and MIS
Dr. Robert McClung	Dean, First Year Students
Mr. Massimo Imparato	Dean, School of Architecture and Interior Design
Mr. Quraish Alharahsheh	Director of Facilities and Administration
Mr. Yusri Ibrahim	Senior Administration Manager of Human Resources and Administration
Dr. Anwar Muhammad Abaidallah	Dean, Institutional Research & Planning/Acting Managing Director of Information and Communication Technology
Dr. Adam Fenech	Canada Research Chair, Culture of Work Committee Member
Ms. Menchie Armillo	Director of Learning Resource Centre
Dr. Rami El Khatib	Vice President, Student Services
Professor Christopher Hill	Vice President, Global Engagement
Mr. Aftab Hameed Khan	Director of Information and Communication Technology

Organizational Structure

Members of Student Council

Name	Title
Shaima Alhai	President
Mariane Abi Daoud	Vice-President
Ramisha Zaman	Secretary
Sania Rahman	Treasurer
Sophia El Alami	Media Officer
Nitisha Thakwani	Public Relations Officer

About the Student Council

Canadian University Dubai's Student Council is a volunteer-based, non-incorporated association aligned with the University's mission. The Student Council's mission includes acting as a liaison between students and administration, promoting student welfare, and encouraging student life and cultural events. The details of the Student Council's role and responsibilities can be found in the CUD Policy and Procedure Manual and the Student Handbook.

Membership & Structure

All full-time students in good academic standing (CGPA 3.0+ for President/VP, 2.5+ for others) who have completed at least two semesters are eligible to participate in the elections and serve as a member of the Student Council. The council includes executive positions (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Media Officer, Public Relations Officer) elected annually, alongside general members. Members serve a one-year term, renewable once.

Elections

Elections are held each Spring semester. Candidates must meet eligibility criteria, register, submit required documents (resume, photo, supporter list for President/VP), and pass interviews. Campaigning involves speeches and approved materials, adhering to a strict code of conduct prohibiting misleading statements or attacks. Voting is open to all current full-time and part-time students.

Student Representation through the Student Council

The elected Student Council representatives are included in several key university committees, ensuring student perspectives are considered in decision-making:

University Senate: One Student Council representative is a member. The Senate reviews and recommends major academic and policy matters to the Board of Trustees.
Academic Council: One representative from the Student Council is a member. The Academic council advises on academic programs, policies, teaching, learning, and research.
Student Disciplinary Committee: One Student Council representative is a member. This committee reviews student misconduct cases.
Learning Resource Center Committee: One Student Council representative is a member.

Academic Societies

Name	Title
Aaliyah Nizam	President, Psychology
Lillian Husam	President, Eco-Lution
Danica Chloe Reyes	President, IEEE
Habiba Kapadia	President, Communication
Riddhi Kapadia	President, Business
Nathan Kahsay Kidanu	President, AI
Ishaan Rai	President, Finance
Khrystyna Kramchanina	President, Case Study Lab
Nazla Chy	President, CoLab
Anas Altaweel	President, EcoRise innovation hub

Social Clubs

Name	Title
Hanan Akram	President, CUD Cares
Annette Thomas	President, Student Volunteers
Sania Rahman	President, Wellness
Neil Jhaveri	President, CMUN
Riddhi Kapadia	President, Dance
Dwayne Menezes	President, Music
Reem Alzeyoudi	President, Art
Mohammed Alinejad	President, Drama
Satvika Appikonda	President, Philosophy
Bianca Sengco	President, Photography
Sukhroop Kaur	President, Women in STEM
Riddhi Kissinger	President, Fashion Club- Couture & Culture

Our Commitment