Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East

Total Work Experience

Accelerate Your Leadership Journey

Change is everywhere in the Middle East today as countries seek to diversify their economies and encourage new industries. The region's complex business environment is surrounded by distinct political and economic challenges in each country and an uncertain global economy. Businesses seeking opportunities for growth in the region need exceptional leaders—executives who are bold decision-makers, global thinkers, and skilled strategists.

The Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East (SELPME) will prepare leaders for this evolving scenario. Taught in a series of modules offered in Boston, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, this business management program will help you become a more capable leader who can deliver value in the global context, drive new levels of innovation, and build accountable, high-performance organizations.

A Comprehensive Learning Journey

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Grow

Experience an in-depth curriculum taught by HBS faculty that gives you the knowledge and tools to advance as a business leader, maximize your organization’s potential, and gain a competitive advantage.

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Interact

Immerse yourself in the business and tech ecosystems of Boston, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi to gain insights from industry experts, engage with high-achieving peers from around the globe, and expand your network.

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Execute

Turn insight into action through dynamic case discussions, engaging small group exercises, and a value mapping strategy project. Make an immediate and direct impact on your organization’s business goals.

Key Takeaways

  • Think strategically, compete successfully, and seize growth opportunities

  • Foster innovations that will improve your organization's ability to deliver value to customers

  • Lead authentically and ethically at all levels and foster a culture of accountability across the organization

  • Build confidence in yourself as a leader, decision-maker, and negotiator

  • Develop enduring bonds with accomplished peers spanning functions, industries, and countries

  • Take advantage of resources for lifelong learning as a member of the global HBS alumni community

Curriculum

Special Program Features

Living/learning group work

A four-module program creates the opportunity to build close, trusting relationships with a small, diverse group of peer executives who can understand your challenges—but are not part of your organization.

Hallmark HBS case method

Pioneered by HBS, the case method engages you in a dynamic and collaborative process of identifying relevant issues and applying practical business solutions to your own situation and organization.

Value Mapping Strategy Project

Throughout the program, you will work on an individual project addressing a strategic challenge facing your organization. You will consider value from the customer’s perspective, compare your own offering with those of competitors, refine your strategy, and develop an action plan for driving the changes that will improve value and sustain success.

360-degree assessment

Using the 360-degree leadership assessment tool as a starting point, your personal coach will work closely with you to identify your strengths, target areas for improvement, and help you develop a personal action plan for ongoing development.

HBS Executive coaching

Our distinctive coaching method is highly integrated into the program to accelerate both individual and team growth. Through one-on-one and group coaching, your professional coach can help you realize your true leadership potential.

Self-paced financial accounting course

Between modules two and three, you will engage in an online course to deepen your understanding of key accounting concepts. Working at your own pace, you’ll enhance your ability to perform and oversee essential accounting tasks—from constructing cash flow statements to evaluating the financial health of investment opportunities.

Is SELPME Right For You?

This program is designed for experienced senior executives who are general managers or functional leaders. It is particularly appropriate for those assuming new responsibilities or driving new growth initiatives in organizations that have experienced success within the Middle East, whether on their own or with regional partners. Participants could represent a number of organizations, including:

  • Large, established companies

  • Entrepreneurial ventures

  • Family businesses

  • Multinational firms with an increased presence in the Middle East

  • Nonprofit organizations

  • Government agencies, especially those working closely with the private sector

HBS Alumni Status

Join a global community of successful executives. Your HBS experience continues to deliver benefits long after the program ends. Graduates of the Senior Executive Leadership Program—Middle East become alumni of Harvard Business School, joining a network of highly accomplished executives. As a lifetime member of the HBS alumni community, you will be able to:

  • Tap into a global resource of more than more than 85,000 MBA and HBS Executive Education alumni in over 160 countries

  • Connect with members of 93 HBS alumni clubs and associations worldwide at business, learning, social, and community service events

  • Access our vast database of management content and thought leadership assets at Baker Library/Bloomberg Center Services

  • Stay in touch with a lifelong HBS email forwarding address

  • Access our exclusive portal to support your career transitions

  • Take advantage of alumni-only coaching and career development opportunities, including tools for polishing your resume and networking

  • Receive a 20 percent discount on regularly priced items, including HBS Press books, Harvard Business Review article reprints, and case studies

  • Enjoy a 30 percent discount on our open-enrollment offerings

Faculty

Faculty

Tarun Khanna is the Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School. For almost three decades, he has studied entrepreneurship as a means to social and economic development in emerging markets. At HBS, he has taught courses on strategy, international business, and economic development to undergraduate and graduate students and senior executives.

Tarun Khanna

Faculty Chair

Additional Faculty

Eva Ascarza
Eva Ascarza

Jakurski Family Associate Professor of Business Administration

LP - HBS-SELPI - Dennis W. Campbell
Dennis W. Campbell

Dwight P. Robinson, Jr. Professor of Business Administration

LP - HBS-SELPI - Rohit Deshpandé
Rohit Deshpandé

Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing

C. Fritz Foley
C. Fritz Foley

André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration

Linda A. Hill
Linda A. Hill

Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration

Nien-Hê Hsieh
Nien-Hê Hsieh

Professor of Business Administration, Joseph L. Rice, III Faculty Fellow

Kevin P. Mohan
Kevin P. Mohan

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Felix Oberholzer-Gee
Felix Oberholzer-Gee

Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration

Krishna G. Palepu
Krishna G. Palepu

Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration

Sophus A. Reinert
Sophus A. Reinert

T.J. Dermot Dunphy Professor of Business Administration

Meg Rithmire
Meg Rithmire

F. Warren Mcfarlan Associate Professor of Business Administration

James K. Sebenius
James K. Sebenius

Gordon Donaldson Professor of Business Administration

Debora L. Spar
Debora L. Spar

MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Business Administration

Stefan H. Thomke
Stefan H. Thomke

William Barclay Harding Professor of Business Administration

Michael L. Tushman
Michael L. Tushman

Baker Foundation Professor, Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration

Note: Faculty list is subject to change

Who Should Attend

The program is ideal for:

  • Senior executives, senior functional leaders, or general managers working in the Middle East or with regional partners who want to sharpen their management and leadership skills and are preparing to assume new responsibilities or drive growth initiatives

  • Leaders with 10+ years of work experience and who represent a range of growth-focused organizations, from large, established companies and growing arms of multinational firms to new ventures and family businesses

  • Executives from multinational firms with recently acquired or significantly expanded management responsibilities who will be working in the Middle East

Past Participant Profiles

Job Titles*
  • Chief Executive Officer

  • Board Member and Partner

  • Chief Financial Officer

  • Chief Operating Officer

  • Deputy Executive Director

  • Deputy Governor

  • General Manager

  • Chief Administrative Officer

  • Chief Information Officer

  • Consultant—Medical Doctor

*Partial lists

Countries*

  • UAE

  • Egypt

  • India

  • Jordan

  • Kuwait

  • Morocco

  • Russia

  • Bahrain

  • France

  • Iraq

*Partial lists

Organizations*
  • ADIA

  • DGCX

  • Deloitte

  • Emirates REIT

  • Equate

  • Finance House

  • Gencallar

  • Joyalukkas

  • Sarooj

  • STC

*Partial lists

Past Participant Testimonials

My biggest takeaway was the importance of culture in an organization. If you do not have a strong culture, no matter how much you micromanage and watch people, you cannot achieve what you need to achi...
Abdulrahman Alkanhal
Abdulrahman Alkanhal
Vice President, The Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
This program has enhanced my ability to manage the human resource side of things, and my ability to attract and retain talent, in particular, has grown. I feel equipped to develop more creative strate...
Muna Batayneh
Muna Batayneh
Director of Operations, Engineering Enterprise Company, Iraq
I was specifically looking for an educational opportunity that was tailored to executives. I've completed my MBA, studied at three different schools, and participated in other academic programs that s...
Hala Matar Choufany
Hala Matar Choufany
President, HVS Middle East and Africa, Dubai
Through the first module, I’ve already gained valuable strategies for driving growth in my region’s unique economy. I’ve also learned that by looking at the big picture, I can more easily identify a c...
Amr Habis
Amr Habis
Deputy Secretary-General, Olayan Financing Company, Saudi Arabia
The professors had a profound impact on my approach to business in general, and my company in particular. They taught me to see through the seemingly chaotic and complex situations that I face as an e...
Jad Karam
Jad Karam
Chief Executive Officer, Sarooj Construction Company, Oman
Two things: First, I wanted exposure to the latest information on various aspects of accounting and economics, and second, I wanted to enhance my time management and decision-making capabilities−both ...
Waseem Khayata
Waseem Khayata
Managing Director of Investment, Finance House, Dubai
Before joining SELPME, I was focused on running my business. Now, I’m thinking bigger than ever
Britt Ludvigsen
Britt Ludvigsen
CEO and Founder, Texprego, Bangladesh
There were some weaknesses that I needed to overcome in order to become a better leader. I was in my comfort zone, using the same old management techniques, and I wanted to deepen my expertise. I had ...
Zoya Sakr
Zoya Sakr
Co-Founder and Group Editor in Chief, Online Lifestyle Network (OLN), UAE

Date and Fee

Program Fee: US$85,000 plus value added tax (VAT)

Date

Location

Module 1

December 14 – 19, 2025

HBS Campus, Boston, US

Module 2

February 1 – 13, 2026

Taj Dubai, Dubai, UAE

Module 3

May 10 – 22, 2026

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Module 4

August 16 – 28, 2026

HBS Campus, Boston, US

Participants should expect to spend approximately 25 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending Module 1 of the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to the start of the program.

Note: The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.

Connect with an Emeritus learning advisor for a 1:1 session

Email: hbs_selpme@emeritus.org

Phone: U.S. +1 315 667 1897 | U.K. +44 1233 225154 | U.A.E. +971 80 0088601089 | LATAM +52 55970 70428 | SG +65 3129 8406 | India 000 8009191947

For group enrollment benefits, write to us at enterprise@emeritus.org

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

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