GAAAA operates under a robust governance framework that ensures independent, fair, and transparent accreditation processes across the Gulf region. Our leadership comprises distinguished educators, quality assurance experts, and policymakers from GCC countries who bring diverse perspectives and deep expertise to our mission.
Governance Structure
Our organizational framework ensures effective oversight and strategic direction
Board of Directors
Provides strategic oversight and governance, comprising 12 members from GCC countries including university presidents, education ministers, and industry leaders who serve three-year terms.
Accreditation Council
Makes final accreditation decisions based on peer review evaluations, ensuring impartiality and adherence to quality standards. Comprises 15 senior educators from across the region.
Executive Leadership
Manages daily operations, implements strategic initiatives, and ensures quality in all accreditation processes. Led by experienced professionals in quality assurance and higher education.
Quality Assurance Committee
Develops and reviews accreditation standards, evaluation criteria, and assessment methodologies to maintain the highest quality benchmarks aligned with international best practices.
Regional Advisory Panels
Provides country-specific guidance and insights, ensuring accreditation processes respect local educational contexts while maintaining regional consistency across GCC states.
Stakeholder Engagement
Facilitates ongoing dialogue with institutions, students, employers, and government bodies to ensure accreditation processes remain relevant and responsive to educational needs.
Executive Leadership Team
Experienced professionals dedicated to advancing educational quality
Dr. Abdullah Al-Suwaidi
Executive Director
Over 25 years of experience in higher education leadership across the Gulf region, with expertise in quality assurance and institutional accreditation.
Dr. Maryam Al-Khalifa
Director of Accreditation Services
Former university vice president with extensive background in academic standards development and institutional assessment throughout GCC countries.
Prof. Khalid Al-Mansoori
Chief Quality Officer
International expert in educational quality assurance with 20+ years leading accreditation reviews for universities and colleges across the Middle East.
Governance Principles
Core values that guide our decision-making and operations
Independence
GAAAA operates autonomously without interference from political, commercial, or institutional pressures, ensuring objective and unbiased accreditation decisions.
Transparency
All accreditation standards, processes, and decisions are publicly available. We maintain clear documentation and communicate openly with all stakeholders.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standards, regularly reviewing our processes and welcoming external evaluations of our accreditation operations.
Expertise
All decisions are informed by peer review and expert evaluation, drawing on the collective knowledge of leading educators and quality assurance professionals.
Regional Focus
While maintaining international standards, we respect the unique educational and cultural context of the Gulf region in all our accreditation frameworks.