In just under three decades, Gulf Medical University has undergone a remarkable evolution. Established as the UAE’s first medical university with a teaching hospital, GMU has grown from a regional leader into a formidable presence on the global stage of medical education.
Over more than 28 years, the university has built, through academic rigor and clinical excellence, a global ecosystem of education and healthcare.
This evolution is deeply rooted in the vision of its Founder President, Dr. Thumbay Moideen. His philosophy brought together universities, hospitals, research centers, and communities into a unified academic healthcare ecosystem, a vision that continues to define GMU today.
Over the years, the university has expanded into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary institution encompassing medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, biomedical sciences, health sciences, and AI in healthcare management. Each discipline has been developed with a clear purpose, reflecting the interconnected realities of modern healthcare. The university also has the largest clinical training network.
Through GMU’s expansive network, the Group has treated over 16 million patients from more than 175 nationalities. GMU graduates are making meaningful contributions in hospitals, universities, research institutions, and healthcare organizations worldwide.
GMU’s success in the Gulf has laid the foundation for a far more ambitious future with global engagement. It is strengthening international collaborations, expanding its research capabilities, and integrating emerging fields such as digital health and artificial intelligence into its academic framework.
One way in which GMU does this is by offering the Thumbay International Pathway Program. The program gives students the opportunity to study the first three years of their Higher Diploma in Pre-Clinical Sciences at GMU, followed by three years of clinical studies at Partner Universities in Poland, Italy, Malaysia, UK, Americas, Uzbekistan, Romania and Ghana. The program leads to a medical degree (MD or MBBS).
GMU offers a prestigious research grant worth AED 3 million to researchers who partner with GMU and are committed to cutting-edge research in the areas of precision oncology and personalised immunotherapy, liquid biopsy and tumour circulating DNA, and so many more.
GMU’s integrated ecosystem enables this transformation. Its teaching hospitals, clinical networks, and research platforms ensure that learning is continuously connected to real-world application.
The Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare focuses on management, economics, and emerging technologies while the Thumbay College of Veterinary Medicine teaches animal handling through simulation-based training among others.
GMU’s Chancellor Prof. Manda Venkatramana highlights that the university’s mission is about nurturing leaders who will shape the future of healthcare.
This shift from regional excellence to global relevance comes from GMU being outward-looking and internationally engaged in a diverse, interconnected world. From a leader in the Gulf, it has emerged as an institution of global consequence.
A major milestone in this journey was marked on February 9, 2026, when Dr. Thumbay Moideen launched Thumbay Medicity Dubai. Designed as a next-generation academic healthcare destination, it will bring together education, healthcare, and research at scale, with the capacity for 3,000 students, 1,000 employment opportunities, and a dynamic ecosystem serving thousands more.
What GMU is building today extends far beyond the region. It is actively shaping the future of global healthcare education.
GMU in Numbers
- 7 Colleges
- 45 Programs
- 5,000+ Students Graduated
- 111+ Nationalities on Campus
- 3,100 clinical training beds, including partner hospitals
- Faculty from 56 countries
- 100+ industry partners
- 1st Private Academic Health System
- 28 Years of Excellence in Education, Healthcare and Research
- Network of 7 Academic Hospitals, owned by Thumbay Group
- Collaboration with 75+ International Universities
- Ranked 1st by Times Higher Education Impact
- Ranking 2025 in “Good Health & Well Being” among all Universities in the UAE.
Spreading Wings Far and Wide
60% of the UAE’s healthcare professionals are trained at GMU. The university has graduated over 15 batches of students with over 5,000 GMU alumni working and contributing to improve healthcare all over the world.
Circle of Life
Thumbay University Hospital has facilitated the delivery of over 100,000 babies. Several of these babies returned to GMU to study medicine. Many more of these students are now working as doctors at the hospital, perpetuating the circle of life.
