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Dubai is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing higher education hubs, with total student enrollment at private institutions rising by around 20 per cent in the 2024–25 academic year, and international student numbers jumping 29 per cent, according to figures released by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and global consultancy L.E.K. Consulting.
More than 42,000 students are now enrolled across 41 private higher education institutions licensed by the KHDA, with international students making up 35 per cent of the total — a figure expected to rise under the emirate’s Education 33 strategy.
Four new international universities opened in the current academic year alone, signalling strong investor confidence in Dubai’s education sector.
The data was released at an exclusive high-level briefing hosted by L.E.K. Consulting’s Global Education Practice recently in Dubai.
The event brought together policymakers, investors, and higher education leaders to discuss Dubai’s ambitions to become a world-class destination for transnational education.
Dubai is a key regional hub for education
“Dubai’s continued growth as a global hub for higher education is testament to our leadership’s vision and the ambitious goals of the Dubai Plan 33,” said
Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA. “Through E33, we are building a future where Dubai is not only a destination for quality education, but a centre of knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.”
The KHDA’s City of Students initiative, part of its broader Education 33 strategy, aims to increase international student enrollment to 50 per cent by 2033, bolstering the emirate’s reputation as a top-tier study destination.
Ashwin Assomull, partner and head of the Global Education Practice at L.E.K. Consulting, said Dubai’s higher education sector represents “one of the most compelling growth markets globally,” citing its student-friendly infrastructure, global university presence, and favourable cost and regulatory environment.
“Dubai presents a significant opportunity for international universities to meet the evolving needs of both local and international students,” he said, noting that increasing regulatory restrictions in traditional anglophone markets are pushing institutions and students to seek new education hubs.
The briefing also highlighted increasing participation from Emirati students, with enrollment in international universities up 22 per cent year-on-year — underlining Dubai’s dual appeal to both domestic and overseas learners.
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