Georgetown University suspended a graduate program in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), following U.S. airstrikes on Iran, administrators informed the university community March 1.
The university suspended the Global Business Experience — a program for MBA students in the McDonough School of Business that gives graduate students the opportunity to study abroad and consult certain Fortune 500 companies — which was scheduled to begin March 1. Following the attacks, Iran has launched a series of retaliatory strikes on neighboring countries, prompting safety concerns for U.S. citizens in the region.
Interim University President Robert M. Groves said in an email to community members that the university will provide students with an alternative to complete the course.
“Our MBA Global Experience program was scheduled to start today, March 1, in Dubai,” Groves wrote. “We have suspended this course and are working to bring students back home as soon as possible. We will make alternate arrangements for the completion of this course.”
On Feb. 28, the United States collaborated with Israel to launch airstrikes on several prominent Iranian sites, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had held the position since 1989, and several other top leaders in the country’s government. Following the strikes — which President Donald Trump cited as necessary to halt the country’s developing nuclear program after failed disarmament negotiations — Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks that have killed three and injured at least 58 people in the UAE, among other neighboring countries.
The U.S. Embassy in Doha, in a post on X, said U.S. citizens should shelter in place, citing potential retaliation on U.S. citizens by the Iranian government.
“The U.S. Embassy in Qatar continues to maintain a shelter-in-place for all personnel,” the post reads. “We recommend all Americans do the same until further notice. Please remain vigilant, as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran.”
All classes at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) have been moved to a virtual format as the conflict continues. Earlier this week, the university also postponed a university-sponsored spring break trip to Doha, Qatar, citing geopolitical tensions in the region.
Groves said ensuring the safety of community members is the university’s top priority.
“The safety and security of Georgetown University community members around the world is our top priority,” Groves wrote. “Our colleagues in D.C. and in the Middle East are actively working together to support community members and provide resources.”
