Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches has reported nearly 10% year-on-year growth in student enrolment, with UAE nationals accounting for almost half of its student body, as demand grows for industry-focused hospitality education in the region.

Since opening in September 2024, the Academy has grown to more than 200 students, including nearly 100 Emirati students.

The institution said the figures reflect its expanding contribution to developing local talent for the UAE’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

The enrolment growth has also prompted an expansion of the Academy’s campus.

New facilities include additional technology-equipped classrooms, a premium podcast studio and a Learning and Resource Centre with dedicated collaboration rooms designed to support research, academic development and student interaction.

The Academy has also expanded its academic offering with the launch of the Master of Science in Sports Management & Events, which welcomed its inaugural cohort in September 2026.

The new programme is designed to prepare professionals for the growing intersection between sport, tourism and hospitality in the UAE.

“We are delighted to welcome our first cohort of students to the MSc in Sports Management & Events program at such an exciting time for sport in the UAE. As the sector continues to gain momentum and drive growth across the wider tourism and hospitality industries, we have an incredible opportunity and responsibility as educators to ensure the next generation is ready to lead that growth. We are proud to equip these students with the business insight, practical experience and leadership skills needed to create exceptional experiences across sport and hospitality in the UAE and beyond,” said Georgette Davey, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches.

The Academy is participating in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, where it is highlighting the changing talent requirements of the region’s hospitality and sports industries.

Davey is scheduled to participate in the panel, “Beyond Recovery: Talent, Community and Sustainable Growth,” focusing on the role of specialised education in developing local talent to support the UAE’s tourism and sports ambitions.

The Academy will also use the event to highlight its new master’s programme and the career opportunities emerging from the expansion of the sports and events sector.

Professor Edmund Goh, PhD, Assistant Dean, Research and Innovation at the Academy, will address another key issue during a fireside session titled “Hospitality's Need for a Human in the Loop.” His session will examine how automation and AI are changing service delivery across hotels and venues while emphasising the continued importance of human judgement, creativity and emotional intelligence.

The Academy said future hospitality and sports professionals will need to combine commercial and technological expertise with relationship-building skills that technology cannot replicate.

The MSc in Sports Management & Events is aimed at both recent graduates and experienced industry professionals.

Its curriculum covers areas including sports economics, marketing, brand management, event management, digital communication, sustainability and stakeholder relations.

Students will learn from specialist faculty and gain practical experience through applied projects and a six-month internship, providing exposure to the operational and commercial aspects of the sector.

Gender diversity is also a focus of the programme, with women accounting for 50% of its teaching staff.

The Academy said this is intended to provide visible role models for women entering sports management and related industries. According to the UN, women currently hold just over 32% of executive positions in international sports federations globally.

Across Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches, women represent 63% of staff and 37% of leadership positions.

The Academy said the launch of the new master’s programme strengthens its focus on developing homegrown talent as the UAE continues to expand its tourism, hospitality, sports and events sectors. The initiative forms part of the wider Les Roches and Sommet Education global network. -TradeArabia News Service