The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the Les Roches Global Hospitality education institution have unveiled the location of the Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches.
Announced last yearto nurture homegrown hospitality skills and academic knowledge, the new education institution will be located within Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City.
His Excellency Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: "The enhancement of Abu Dhabi’s culinary and hospitality landscape is a key pillar of our roadmap for future growth. With our Tourism Strategy 2030 having set ambitious growth targets for visitation to the emirate, we aim to further elevate Abu Dhabi’s world-renowned hospitality offering and ensure its wide appeal to travellers from around the globe. Also, building the sector and talent in hospitality is crucial to our vision; the innovative curriculum of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches will guarantee the industry access to a steady stream of homegrown talent and a wealth of expertise, enabling a sustainable hospitality ecosystem."
Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches Global Hospitality, said: "We are thrilled with this new step forward for this ambitious project that will bring our legacy of excellence in hospitality education to the heart of the UAE. Our mission is to prepare students to thrive in a hospitality sector that is future-proof, authentic, and uniquely Emirati."
Les Roches Global Hospitality was established in Switzerland in 1954 and ranks fifth globally in hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). The academy aims to attract UAE Nationals as well as regional talent to Abu Dhabi’s growing hospitality industry.
Scheduled to welcome its first students in September 2024, the institution will initially offer a bachelor's degree and will introduce two master's degrees in 2025. These programmes will combine traditional hospitality education with specialised UAE-centric courses to deliver tailored training to students. Undergraduate students will be introduced to Emirati hospitality in their first semester through courses such as Hospitality Discovery Experience in the Emirates, Emirati Hospitality Culture, and Emirati Cuisine and Pastry.
Georgette Davey, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, said: "Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches will be training and preparing the next generation of industry leaders that uphold the values and authenticity of Emirati hospitality. We are very honoured to be part of this unique journey and contribute to raising the talents of tomorrow for the country."
The academy’s state-of-the-art facilities are designed to meet the highest standards of hospitality education, enhancing the learning experience for students and preparing them for real-world scenarios. The first floor will feature the hotel lab and demo room that will include a mock reception area. Positioned at the heart of the school, the cafeteria serves a dual purpose, functioning not only as a dining space, but also housing a barista and mocktail lab. Additionally, a training kitchen, an extensive pastry lab and a 30-seat demonstration lab are equipped to host students, professionals, and enthusiasts. The facilities will also be available for rent.
The expansion of the emirate’s hospitality offering is key to strategic plans to meet the targets set out in the Tourism Strategy 2030, which includes welcoming 39.9 million visitors to Abu Dhabi each year, and increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED90 billion by 2030. To support this, various development programmes have been introduced to attract brands to the emirate, as well as establishing training and education facilities, in addition to offering new degree programmes in key sectors such as culinary, maritime sustainability and food security.
