Dubai Real Estate Institute partners with UK's University of Reading

The agreement was signed by Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif Al Shehi, Managing Director of DREI, and Professor Colin Lizieri, Head of the Department of Real Estate and Planning at the University of Reading. Caroline Nunnerley, Director of International Affairs of Reading University, Dr. Hischam El Agamy, Chairman of DREI advisory counsel, and the DREI management team were present at the signing ceremony.

The two institutions will jointly offer executive education programmes and training in real estate during the upcoming academic year including short courses for middle managers and real estate leaders. In addition, both DREI and the University of Reading will work together to develop tailored programmes and work towards building research capabilities and degree programmes.

Dr. Mohamed Al Shehi, Managing Director, DREI, said:

"The University of Reading has a tradition for excellence that dates back to the 19th Century. We are honoured to establish a partnership with such a prestigious University which adds a rich academic tradition in real estate education and expertise to the region."

"Our agreement with the University of Reading's Department of Real Estate and Planning will help individuals and corporations looking for high quality real estate professional development opportunities. This agreement is part of our mission to forge partnerships with internationally recognised universities to strengthen the credibility of the high quality programmes in real estate education as well as complement training programmes and our research database."

The University of Reading is a leader in higher education with one of the strongest and most comprehensive real estate programs in the world. DREI has already partnered with the National University of Singapore and Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology.

Professor Colin Lizieri, Head of the Department of Real Estate and Planning at Reading, said: "We are pleased to establish this partnership, extending our academic reach to the Middle East. We regard the Dubai Real Estate Institute as a credible education partner, being the first comprehensive real estate institute in the Middle East.

"With this first of its kind exclusive agreement in the GCC, we look forward to integrating successfully the cornerstones of our University's strengths into the academic offerings of DREI."

Programme participants will have access to the University of Reading's digital library, one of the most comprehensive databases in the UK providing an authoritative resource for students and corporations. The University's large network will also enable industry experts to attend lectures and provide first hand knowledge of the industry to programme participants.

The lectures will be managed and undertaken by the senior faculty from Reading's Department of Real Estate and Planning who possess a wealth of industry experience and an impressive research record.

Students will receive certificates of attendance similar to the one provided to those enrolled in the University of Reading's short programmes. These courses will include Corporate Finance and Real Estate Decisions; Corporate Real Estate Management and Strategy; Project Management in Commercial Real Estate; Property Development - Process and Appraisal; Property Investment Strategies and Portfolio Analysis; Property Research and Forecasting; Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation; and Real Estate Fund Management.