Ajman, UAE: Gulf Medical University has marked its 28th anniversary with a celebration that brought together university leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni, led by Chief Guest Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group. The event, held under the theme Born in Thumbay, Built at GMU, told the story of the university through the people it has shaped: students born in Thumbay hospitals, alumni who returned to work within the group, and their children now studying at GMU.
The celebration reflected a journey that began in 1998, when Thumbay Group founded the university in Ajman. What started as Gulf Medical College has grown into a full university with seven colleges and 45 accredited programmes, the university says. Students from more than 117 nationalities now study there, taught by faculty from 56 countries, and more than 5,000 graduates work in healthcare systems around the world.
A celebration told through its people
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the anniversary was a moment to look at the faces in the hall rather than the figures on a page. “Today I look at this hall and see students who were born in our hospitals, alumni who chose to come home to us, and their children studying in our classrooms,” he said. “We built this for the region and for the world, and we are only getting started. I thank the almighty, the Rulers of this country, my amazing team and my family who stood by me throughout my journey.”
Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University, said the 28 year journey reflects a sustained commitment to excellence in medical education, research, healthcare and innovation. “With significant achievements in international accreditations, global rankings, research and academic expansion, the University continues to strengthen its global presence and advance its vision of shaping the future of healthcare education and practice,” he said. “I dedicate the success to our faculty, staff, and students. The best is yet to come.”
The President and Chancellor also honoured the newly elected Student Council Executive Board members during the celebration, the university says.
A year of global recognition
The anniversary caps the strongest year of international recognition in the university’s history, according to the university. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, Gulf Medical University debuted in the 1001 to 1200 band and ranked first in the world for International Outlook. Its score of 99.4 was the highest of 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories, and the university says it is the only specialised medical and health sciences university in the UAE in this edition.
Gulf Medical University also debuted at 125th in the QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2027, where it ranked first in the Arab region for international student ratio. Its College of Pharmacy entered the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 in the 351 to 400 band for Pharmacy and Pharmacology, one of only five UAE universities ranked in the subject. The university is ranked 88th in the THE Arab University Rankings 2027.
In June 2026, the university earned institutional accreditation from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK, valid until 2031, meeting all ten European Standards and Guidelines with no conditions, the university says.
Growth across colleges and countries
Twenty eight years on, the numbers tell the same story as the people on stage, the university says. Gulf Medical University now runs seven colleges and 45 accredited programmes, with students from more than 117 nationalities and faculty from 56 countries. Over 5,000 graduates work in healthcare systems around the world.
The university offers programmes across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, health sciences and management and AI in healthcare, along with veterinary medicine, with clinical training through Thumbay Group’s academic health system, including Thumbay University Hospital.
An academic health system behind the university
Behind the university stands Thumbay Group’s academic health system, the university says: seven academic hospitals with more than 3,100 training beds, over 75 international university partnerships, and Joint Commission International Enterprise Accreditation, a distinction Thumbay Healthcare was the first in the UAE, and one of only five groups worldwide, to receive. Thumbay University Hospital, the largest private academic hospital in the region, has treated patients from more than 175 nationalities.
Gulf Medical University was founded in 1998 by Thumbay Group in response to a commitment to transform healthcare education in the UAE. Under the leadership of Dr. Moideen, the institution began as Gulf Medical College and grew into a full fledged university, becoming one of the region’s most respected medical universities, according to the university.
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All information in this article was shared by Gulf Medical University. UAE Startup Story has not verified or confirmed its accuracy and accepts no responsibility for it.
