Welcome to the United Arab Emirates University’s Department of Veterinary Medicine. We are home to UAE's only veterinary medicine professional program. The Department celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of Emirati veterinarians in June 2019 and the second cohort completed the program in June 2020. In March 2021, the Department moved to a new site at Falaj Hazza with 8 state-of-the-art laboratories as well as new faculty and staff offices and associated facilities.
The UAEU Department of Veterinary Medicine provides world-class, hands-on education and training to the future veterinarians. The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine program is five years long, after which, graduates will be qualified veterinarians. The student will receive veterinary basic sciences education and intensive clinical training arranged by animal species and specialized discipline.
The faculty members in the department are dedicated teachers and innovative researchers, all holding veterinary and/or PhD degrees and having research experience, who participate in all phases of the veterinary medicine professional curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree. The Department is acknowledged nationally for the uniqueness of the veterinary program and its research aimed at addressing priority needs of the UAE under the themes of One Health, Food Security and Sustaining Biodiversity.
The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine program is fully accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and the Department of Veterinary Medicine has been a Provisional Member of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) since 2018, anticipating full membership in the future. The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine program is also a candidate member of International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA).
The UAEU Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine program is currently being considered for international accreditation by the European Association for Establishments of Veterinary Education (EAEVE). The UAEU/CAVM Department of Veterinary Medicine is in the process of preparing a preliminary self-evaluation report for submission in early September 2025 outlining its curriculum, facilities, and commitment to quality as well as demonstrating how it meets EAEVE's standards. Thereafter an initial EAEVE evaluator team is expected to visit UAEU the first week of November 2025 for a preliminary on-site inspection to conduct interviews, inspect facilities, and review documentation. An assessment will follow with possible outcomes being accreditation, pending accreditation or non-accreditation. In the case of pending accreditation three years will be provided to fulfil requirements to achieve full accreditation. In the meantime, UAEU will be listed as an EAEVE Associate Member applicant
Professor Arve Lee Willingham
Chair, Department of Veterinary Medicine
