Dubai, UAE – 30 September 2025: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai is celebrating a milestone year for its Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) ACCA programme, with students achieving multiple UAE national honours. Among the prize winners are sisters Sarah and Samaira Atique Sayed, who enrolled in the same cohort and both earned national honours in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) exams. Sarah became UAE Top Affiliate for the May 2025 sitting – the first time a MAHE Dubai student has secured this title which recognizes the candidate with the highest average mark across all Strategic Professional papers. Her younger sister Samaira topped the June 2025 sitting of Advanced Audit & Assurance to become a UAE Prizewinner.
Alongside the Sayed sisters, the 2024–25 cohorts of MAHE Dubai’s BCom ACCA programme produced several other national prize winners. Jyothikeerthana Selva and Aditya Bhattacharjee both secured UAE Prizewinner honours in Advanced Performance Management in December 2024, while Preeti Peter achieved two UAE Prizewinner titles, one for Advanced Taxation in May 2024 and another for Strategic Business Leader in December 2024.
The cohorts’ collective success demonstrates the strength of MAHE Dubai’s ACCA programme in developing top-performing finance professionals.
Dr Sunitha Prabhuram, Chairperson of the School of Business at Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai, said this year’s successful results demonstrates the programme’s impact: “Seeing students from our programme sweep top honours says everything about the effectiveness of our approach. We aren’t just preparing them to pass exams, we’re shaping resilient, globally competitive professionals. All our prizewinners prove that when disciplined students are supported by rigorous academics, personalised mentoring and industry exposure, they can set new benchmarks for success.”
To recognise these achievements, MAHE Dubai hosted “The Accounting Profession Redefined” felicitation ceremony. Senior leaders from ACCA’s Middle East office attended, including Kush Ahuja, Head of Eurasia & Middle East at ACCA. Kush Ahuja congratulated the students and spoke about how the accounting profession is evolving through technology, sustainability and ethics. He applauded MAHE Dubai for building an ecosystem that transforms students into future‑ready leaders, agile thinkers who will shape the profession rather than just join it, and who carry a global outlook that’s vital to accounting’s digital, sustainable future.
Kush Ahuja, Head of Eurasia & Middle East at ACCA, said, “The world of finance is being reshaped every day by AI, by shifting markets, and by new expectations of what finance professionals can deliver. The UAE is uniquely placed as a bridge between East and West, giving young graduates here a head start on a truly global career. What sets future leaders apart is not just technical knowledge but the willingness to learn continuously and take bold, calculated risks early on. The achievements of MAHE Dubai’s students show that with the right mindset and ecosystem, the next generation is ready to lead this transformation.”
MAHE Dubai’s School of Business integrates ACCA preparation into the BCom curriculum, offering computer‑based exam practice, mock tests, revision boot camps and one‑to‑one mentoring. Faculty mentors work with students to map study plans and provide remedial sessions. The campus also hosts guest lectures and industry partnerships that expose students to professional practice.
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education – Dubai
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Dubai Campus, is a globally recognized institution dedicated to academic excellence, research, and innovation. Licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) and awarded a 5-star rating by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), MAHE Dubai offers a world-class learning environment designed to prepare students for success in a dynamic global landscape.
Established in 2000 as the first international branch campus of MAHE, India’s largest private university, the Dubai campus is home to over 3,100 students from 50+ nationalities and supported by a distinguished faculty of 150+. The university offers 50+ programs across disciplines such as Engineering, IT, Business, Design, Architecture, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Media, and Psychology.
Located in Dubai International Academic City, the 750,000 sq. ft. campus features advanced laboratories, specialized studios, innovation hubs, and vibrant student life facilities — fostering academic, creative, and personal growth.
Learn more: www.manipaldubai.com