🎓 Study in Dubai with Purpose: SDBS Swiss Distance Business School® Brings Swiss Education to Students from Economically Disadvantaged Nations

OUS Academy in Switzerland
Jul 24
2 min read

The SDBS – Swiss Distance Business School®, officially registered under the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (Nr. 806818), is a unique institution within the global Swiss academic ecosystem. As part of the OUS Academy in Zurich, which itself belongs to the ISBM Business School in Lucerne and operates under the umbrella of Swiss International University (SIU) in Bishkek, SDBS is driven by one mission: to make quality Swiss education accessible to learners from economically disadvantaged countries.

Now available on campus in Dubai, SDBS offers KHDA-approved vocational diplomas tailored specifically for students who would otherwise have limited access to global-standard business education.

Note: If you reside in or hold citizenship from a high-income country, SDBS programs and services are not available to you.

Education with Purpose, Delivered in Dubai

Dubai is a dynamic learning hub for the global South — a place where ambitious minds from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East converge. SDBS recognizes this opportunity and has established its academic presence in Dubai to:

Provide Swiss-quality education in an affordable and accessible location
Deliver on-campus diploma programs approved by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
Serve students who are often excluded from traditional international systems due to economic barriers
Support professional development for students from low and lower-middle income countries

KHDA-Approved Diplomas with Real Career Value

SDBS in Dubai offers 18 career-focused vocational diplomas, each officially approved by Dubai’s KHDA. These programs include:

Business Administration
Human Resources
Marketing and Communication
IT and Digital Transformation
Leadership and Management
Logistics and Supply Chain
Entrepreneurship
Tourism and Events...and other in-demand business areas.

All programs are delivered in-person at our Dubai campus, combining Swiss academic standards with practical training designed for real-world employability.

A Humanitarian Academic Model

SDBS is not just a business school—it’s a socially responsible academic project. The institution operates with strict eligibility criteria:

Only students from economically disadvantaged countries (as per recognized global economic indexes) are eligible
Applicants must reside in, or hold citizenship from, a low or lower-middle income country
Students from high-income countries are not permitted to register

This policy ensures that the resources and educational access offered by SDBS are exclusively reserved for those most in need of support.

A Branch of a Recognized Global Network

SDBS is part of a larger structure that includes:

OUS Academy in Zurich – an institution registered in Switzerland and recognized for its innovation in remote learning
ISBM Business School in Lucerne – the Swiss academic headquarters
Swiss International University (SIU) – the central academic authority based in Bishkek

This multi-level framework ensures that SDBS diplomas meet the same quality standards as other programs within the SIU group, while being designed to serve a different audience — with dignity, fairness, and quality.

Empowering the Future, One Student at a Time

At SDBS, the goal is simple: deliver Swiss-quality education to those who need it most. Through its Dubai campus, SDBS opens doors for students who face financial and geopolitical barriers — offering them a respected, KHDA-approved education and a pathway to better futures.