American University in Cairo, School of Business

Name

American University in Cairo, School of Business

Legal name

The American University in Cairo

Website

https://business.aucegypt.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business School / Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

MBA & Executive MBA Programs (EDAHAHAB), Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Business education programs
• Executive education training
• Startup acceleration services
• Financial markets research
• Behavioral economics research

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Tuition: Revenue from tuition fees charged to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students across BBA, MBA, EMBA, MSc, MA, and other degree programs.
2. Executive Education Programs: Custom and open enrollment executive education programs for corporate and government clients, including the 'Leading Change in Dynamic Organizations' program and specialized sector-specific training.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Giving: The school receives donations in EGP and USD to sustain excellence in teaching and research, accelerate societal impact, and develop future leaders. Donations are made through dedicated giving portals.
4. Venture Lab Startup Incubation: V-Lab accelerator programs (Startup Accelerator, Fintech Accelerator, Startup Launchpad) connect startups with investors and ecosystem players. AUC Angels provides angel investment to startups. The school benefits from increased engagement, alumni relations, and donor relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo delivers undergraduate and graduate business degree programs (BBA, MBA, EMBA, MSc, CEMS MIM), custom and open-enrollment executive education for corporate and government clients, and operates a portfolio of specialized research centers and accelerator programs including AUC Venture Lab, BEDMLab, Qalaa Financial Services Lab with Bloomberg access, Women on Boards Observatory, KCC, CEI, and J-PAL MENA.

Product overview

The Onsi Sawiris School of Business at AUC is a comprehensive business education institution offering a multi-product portfolio consisting of undergraduate and graduate degree programs (BBA, MBA, EMBA, MSc), Executive Education for professional development, and a network of specialized research centers and accelerator programs. The academic programs are complemented by AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab), Egypt's first university-based accelerator offering Startup Accelerator, Fintech Accelerator, Startup Launchpad, and AUC Angels angel investor network. The school also operates specialized research centers including Qalaa Financial Services Lab (with Bloomberg platform access), Behavioral and Economic Decision-Making Lab (BEDMLab), Women on Boards Observatory, El-Khazindar Business Research and Case Center (KCC), Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D), John D. Gerhart Center, and J-PAL MENA. This ecosystem supports entrepreneurship, innovation, research, and professional development across Egypt and the MENA region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab): Egypt's first university-based accelerator helping entrepreneurs build innovative tech-enabled startups
• AUC Angels
• Women on Boards Observatory
• ESG Barometer for Corporate Egypt

Products and services

• Undergraduate Business Programs Bachelor-level degree programs including BBA with specializations in Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Management, as well as minors and the CEMS undergraduate track. Designed for high-school graduates seeking foundational business education and global career preparation.
• Graduate Business Programs Master's-level programs including MBA, EMBA, MSc, MA, and CEMS Master's in International Management for working professionals and recent graduates seeking advanced business credentials and specialization.
• Executive Education Custom and open-enrollment professional development programs for corporate and government clients, including flagship programs such as 'Leading Change in Dynamic Organizations' and 'Leadership for Government Excellence' (LGE), designed to build leadership, capacity, and institutional performance.
• AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab) Egypt's first university-based accelerator, operating since 2013 and helping entrepreneurs build, expand, and scale tech-enabled startups. Provides access to AUC networks, regional investors, growth-hacking strategies, and investment readiness support, and has helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs to date.
• Startup Accelerator Four-month flagship acceleration program for tech-enabled, innovation-driven startups across sectors such as Green Economy, Ed-tech, Health-tech, E-commerce, AI, and Logistics. Operates on a 0% equity model and connects founders with mentors, advisors, and investors.
• Fintech Accelerator Four-month intensive program for financial technology startups covering payments, insurtech, wealth management, lending, savings, and infrastructure sectors. Provides mentorship, technology support, regulatory sandbox access, and networking with financial-sector partners.
• Startup Launchpad Nine-week immersive program for idea-stage entrepreneurs and future founders to grasp entrepreneurship foundations and develop ideas into minimum-viable products. Has graduated 4 cohorts including 75 entrepreneurs from nine Egyptian governorates.
• AUC Angels The first university-based angel investor network in the Middle East and Africa, connecting vetted early-stage startups with accomplished angel investors who provide mentorship and capital deployment.
• Qalaa Financial Services Lab State-of-the-art financial services instructional facility established in 2006, integrating hands-on practice with classroom concepts in securities trading, risk management, and asset allocation. Offers Bloomberg platform access with real-time financial data and professional research tools.
• Behavioral and Economic Decision-Making Lab (BEDMLab) Research center founded in December 2019 studying human decision-making through economic experiments and behavioral economics, providing evidence-based solutions for research, teaching, policy-making, and business decision-making using laboratory, lab-in-the-field, and field experiments.
• Women on Boards Observatory Initiative improving the gender balance of corporate boards in Egypt and the MENA region through sensitizing board members, qualifying women for board appointments, and advocating policy changes. Publishes annual Women on Boards monitoring reports tracking representation metrics across EGX-listed companies, banking, public enterprises, and non-banking financial sectors.
• El-Khazindar Business Research and Case Center (KCC) Center established in 2007 providing participant-centered business education through practical publications, knowledge dissemination, and teaching enhancement. Develops case studies on MENA region businesses and organizes competitions including the International Case Competition and KCC-P&G StandOut Challenge.
• Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) Pioneer hub established in 2015 promoting entrepreneurial education, endorsing ecosystem development, offering capacity-building opportunities, and pioneering research for Egypt and the MENA region.
• Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) Research center focusing on access to knowledge for development, conducting policy research and fostering networks and partnerships for knowledge dissemination in development contexts.
• John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business Center advancing philanthropy, civic engagement, and responsible business practices through capacity building, research programs, and civic engagement initiatives.
• J-PAL Middle East and North Africa Regional office of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at AUC conducting randomized impact evaluations to reduce poverty through evidence-informed policymaking, building partnerships, and scaling effective programs across the Middle East and North Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students are employed within six months after graduation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

47 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ivey PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2025KCC partnered with Ivey Publishing to distribute KCC case studies globally via Ivey's extensive print and digital network and to launch a co-branded Ivey-KCC case collection. The collection covers entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and sustainability in the MEA region.
• IBM ZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021IBM Z partnered with CEI for Hackathon 21, providing resources, judging panels, and educational sessions around pitching, creativity, and innovation for 143 participants from 11 countries. Hackathon focused on innovating solutions for people with disabilities during COVID-19.
• Etisalat MisrcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Etisalat Misr was the main partner of Hackathon 21 for the second consecutive year, providing prizes, judging, and support. Partnership aims to scale initiatives supporting UN SDGs (SDG3: Good Health, SDG9: Innovation, SDG17: Partnerships). CEO Hazem Metwally emphasized societal-level impact.
• Leadership Coaching Excellence (LCE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021LCE was the coaching and judging strategic partner for Hackathon 21, providing coaches and judges. LCE Head Hany Abdelgawad noted high performance and professionalism. CEI also partners with LCE for the International Case Competition mentorship.
• Bureau of the Government of Bangladesh (BRAC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2016International NGO that launched the graduation approach for ultra-poor households, which was piloted in Egypt by J-PAL MENA researchers as part of the Bab Amal project.
• Education for Employment (EFE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2016Implementing partner for 'Improving Youth Employment Training in Egypt' programs. J-PAL MENA researchers evaluate EFE's training programs in hospitality, retail, and IT/BPO sectors, targeting 20,000 youth across Egypt.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003J-PAL was founded at MIT in 2003 by professors Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Sendhil Mullainathan. MIT Economics and J-PAL developed the MicroMasters program in Data, Economics, and Development Policy. AUC hosts J-PAL MENA.
• Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Egypt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEI at Onsi Sawiris School of Business represented AUC in establishing the Invest with Confidence – De-risking Tech Startups (DTS) Alliance as part of the Ministry's Presidential Initiative Alliance and Development. The alliance focuses on Egypt's electronics design and manufacturing sector, youth capacity building, industry-aligned academic programs, and attracting FDI.
• Center for Nanoelectronics and Devices (CND) - AUC School of Sciences and EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCND at AUC's School of Sciences and Engineering partners with CEI on the DTS Alliance to address hardware technology design and manufacturing in Egypt, bringing together academia, investment, VC, and public/private sector stakeholders.
• National Employment Pact / Shaghalni / MSMEDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for labor market research including job matching services, microcredit impact evaluation, and job attribute studies. Jointly works with J-PAL MENA on randomized evaluations targeting employment outcomes.
• School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) Executive Education - AUCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecEd collaborated with GAPP Executive Education to co-develop and deliver the 'Leading Change in Dynamic Organizations' program targeting Egyptian judicial and legal sector professionals.
• National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIGSD partnered with ExecEd to deliver the 'Leading Change in Dynamic Organizations' program exclusively for 35 members of Egypt's judicial and legal sector. NIGSD's Judge Haitham Mohamed Bahaa managed the Judicial Governance Project within this initiative.
• Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation (MPED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPED partnered with ExecEd to co-develop capacity-building programs for government officials, supporting Egypt's Vision 2030 through leadership training for national institutions.
• BloombergcoreTechnology or IntegrationBloomberg Professional Services provides the Qalaa Financial Services Lab with access to live market data, economic indicators, and analytical tools. This collaboration positions the lab as a fully integrated teaching and research environment supporting corporate finance, investments, and ESG analysis courses.
• Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISI is the leading professional body for securities, investment, wealth, and financial planning professionals. Partnership with Qalaa Financial Services Lab supports professional financial education and certification pathways.
• Egyptian Society for Technical Analysts (ESTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESTA is a professional technical analysis society that disseminates and teaches technical analysis in Egypt. Partnership with Qalaa Financial Services Lab supports finance education and professional development.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerP&G partners with KCC for the annual KCC-P&G StandOut Commercial Challenge, a national competition attracting 500+ students from 24 universities. P&G executives serve as judges and provide real-world commercial case studies for student teams.
• Ivey Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCC partnered with Ivey Business School (Western University, Canada) for the International Case Competition (ICC) and International Case Development Competition (ICDC), providing global visibility to MEA business cases and student participation.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCG served as a knowledge partner for the International Case Competition (ICC), providing mentorship and apt feedback to student teams through Leadership Coaching Excellence (LCE) panelists. BCG involvement enhances the competition's global business relevance.
• The Case CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Case Centre (UK) served as a knowledge partner for the ICC, contributing global expertise in case method pedagogy and supporting the competition's mission to promote MEA business education.
• MIT Press / Harvard Kennedy School / George Mason UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCC developed a special edition of the MIT Innovations Journal in partnership with MIT Press, Harvard's Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, and George Mason University's School of Public Policy, featuring success stories from MENA entrepreneurial businesses.
• Business Cases Institute of ESCA Ecole de Management (Morocco)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCC partnered with ESCA's Business Cases Institute in Morocco to deliver a casebook of 10 case studies (five from Egypt, five from Morocco), addressing business issues including market repositioning, supply chain, crisis management, and sustainability.
• Emerald PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerald published KCC's case study collection 'Cases on Business and Management in the MENA Region: New Trends and Opportunities,' expanding the global reach of AUC's case development work.
• IGI GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGI Global published the KCC casebook on MENA business and management, addressing topics including ICT, accounting, data protection, corporate change, and supply chain management.
• AramexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAramex is listed as a partner of KCC, supporting the center's mission to bridge academia and practice in business education across the MENA region.
• Aman (Aman for Microfinance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAman is listed as a partner of the Fintech Accelerator, providing fintech startups with insights on microfinance regulations and market dynamics in Egypt.
• Commercial International Bank (CIB) EgyptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIB Egypt partners with the Fintech Accelerator, Egypt's largest private sector bank providing fintech startups with regulatory insights, banking sector expertise, and networking opportunities across the Egyptian financial ecosystem.
• Raya HoldingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaya Holding is listed as a Fintech Accelerator partner, supporting fintech innovation and entrepreneurship within the AUC ecosystem.
• Arab African International Bank (AAIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAIB is the Leadership Corporate Co-Founder of the Startup Accelerator program, providing funding, mentorship, and corporate sponsorship to support tech-enabled startup growth.
• Apache DigitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of the Startup Accelerator program.
• Danish Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of the Startup Accelerator program through Danish business development initiatives.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanida supports the Startup Accelerator through the Danish-Arab Partnership Program, advancing entrepreneurship and innovation in Egypt.
• Danish-Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAPP partners with AUC Startup Accelerator to advance entrepreneurship and cross-border innovation collaboration between Denmark and Egypt.
• PLAN InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLAN International is a sponsor of the Startup Accelerator, supporting youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEI partners with UN Women on the WEE (Women's Economic Empowerment) Program, supporting women entrepreneurs in Egypt. UN Women's Nora Rafea noted CEI's dedication to delivering quality training and services to women entrepreneurs.
• Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRA is a founding partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, providing regulatory oversight and data on non-banking financial sector companies' board composition in Egypt.
• Egyptian Exchange (EGX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGX is a founding partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, providing board composition data for listed companies tracked in annual monitoring reports.
• National Council for Women (Egypt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCW is a founding partner and serves as the umbrella organization for the Women on Boards Observatory within the framework of Egypt's National Council for Women, advocating for 30% women on boards by 2030.
• UN Women (Observatory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Women is an international founding partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, supporting gender diversity advocacy and policy frameworks for women's representation on corporate boards in Egypt.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFC co-developed the 2014 'Women on Corporate Boards' training program with the school. IFC supports the Women on Boards Observatory through expertise and global best practice frameworks.
• American Chamber of Commerce in EgyptminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmCham Egypt partners with the Women on Boards Observatory to promote corporate governance and gender diversity in the Egyptian business community.
• The Women and Memory ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Women and Memory Forum is an NGO partner supporting the Women on Boards Observatory's advocacy and research mission in Egypt.
• The 30% ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 30% Club is a regional network partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, sharing best practices and advocacy frameworks for achieving 30% women on boards across the MENA region.
• The Boardroom AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoardroom Africa is a regional network partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, advancing women's representation on corporate boards across Africa through shared advocacy and knowledge exchange.
• Arab International Women's ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIWF is a regional network partner supporting women's advancement in business leadership across the Arab world through the Women on Boards Observatory.
• Business Women Forum (BWE21)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWE21 is a national network partner supporting women's professional advancement and board representation in Egypt's corporate sector.
• Top 50 Women ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop 50 Women Forum is a national network partner of the Women on Boards Observatory, connecting Egypt's top female executives and board-ready women.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IE Business School: Spanish-headquartered global business school with strong executive education and entrepreneurship offerings. Competes with AUC for international MBA students and corporate custom programs; relevant peer given its emerging-market focus and broad portfolio beyond core MBA.
• Grenoble École de Management (GEM): Triple-accredited French business school with campuses in France, Morocco, and other locations, plus strong executive education and entrepreneurship programs in MENA. Operates as a broader incumbent competing for similar international and Moroccan executive clients.
• HEC Paris: French-based global business school with one of the largest executive education operations worldwide and a presence in MENA. Comparable to AUC for top-tier executive clientele and government programs, but operates at a significantly larger scale and premium brand positioning.

Regional players

• Strathmore Business School (Kenya): Africa-based triple-accredited business school with executive education and entrepreneurship programs. Comparable to AUC V-Lab and AUC Angels as a university-based startup ecosystem (iCritical Think Centre, @iBizAfrica incubator) targeting a different African geography.
• ESCA École de Management (Morocco): Morocco's leading business school and a confirmed AUC partner (KCC casebook collaboration). Operates overlapping undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in a different North African market and is a direct competitor for MENA-wide executive clients.

Direct peers

• London Business School (LBS): Triple-accredited London-based business school with strong Middle East executive education and MBA programs. Directly comparable to AUC's Onsi Sawiris School in format, accreditation, and executive education focus on EMBA and custom programs.
• SP Jain School of Global Management: Dubai-headquartered business school with multi-city model (Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai) targeting international and regional students with MBA, BBA, and executive programs. Competes directly with AUC for prospective MENA business students seeking internationally-oriented private degrees.
• Hult International Business School: Global business school with a major Dubai campus offering BBA, MBA, and executive education in MENA. Competes with AUC for executive students in the Gulf and offers similar practice-oriented programs including entrepreneurship and Bloomberg-equipped finance labs.
• American University of Beirut - Suliman S. Olayan School of Business: Closest regional peer to AUC's School of Business — both are American-style private business schools in the Arab world with AACSB accreditation, undergraduate and graduate business programs, executive education, and entrepreneurship centers. They directly compete for students and corporate clients across the Levant, GCC, and North Africa.
• INSEAD: Global elite business school with campuses in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi offering MBA, EMBA, and executive education. Competes with AUC for executive students across MENA and is a benchmark for AUC's triple-crown positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AUC_Business
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2ZjQuOFmNVtdjI6D4uN-UA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AUC.Business
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auc-business
• Instagraminstagram.com/auc.business
• TikToktiktok.com/@auc_egypt?lang=en

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American University in Cairo, School of Business