Groundbreaking ceremony for Buckinghamshire New University’s campus at UAQ Free Trade Zone

Cromwell UK University College (CUC) has officially held the groundbreaking ceremony for its Buckinghamshire New University’s campus on newly leased land within the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQFTZ), marking a major milestone in bringing a British higher education institution to the emirate. This development aligns with UAQFTZ’s broader strategy to build a hub for quality education and international investment.

The ceremony was led by Professor Sarah Williams, pro vice-chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), United Kingdom, and Nisar Muhammed, CEO of Cromwell UK University College, who will be the Academic Infrastructure Provider for Buckinghamshire New University. The ceremony was attended by the senior management team from UAQ Free Trade Zone, including Johnson George, general manager.

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The event highlighted the strong academic relationship between Cromwell UK University College and Buckinghamshire New University. In her remarks, Professor Sarah Williams noted that Cromwell has been “a long-standing and reputable partner of BNU” and described the establishment of the UAQ campus as an exciting and accelerated phase of their academic partnership.

Cromwell UK serves as the academic infrastructure backbone for BNU’s curriculum offerings, ensuring that students in the UAE receive the same academic standards, curriculum structure, and quality benchmarks followed in the United Kingdom.

Johnson George, general manager of UAQ Free Trade Zone, reiterated the Free Zone’s commitment to enabling impactful educational projects. “This academic partnership exemplifies our commitment to developing a dynamic ecosystem that offers world-class opportunities for the community,” he said.

“It also reflects our competitive strength: the ability to facilitate all requirements with unmatched speed and seamless efficiency, turning business vision into reality.”

In his remarks, Nisar Muhammed thanked UAQFTZ for its support and BNU for their continued collaboration. He described the new campus as “more than a physical development — it is the beginning of a shared vision to build a better future through quality education,” reinforcing the role of structured guidance and mentorship in student success.

Once completed, the new campus will allow students in the Northern Emirates to pursue internationally recognized UK degrees without needing to travel abroad and expanding local access to globally benchmarked education.