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Dubai’s higher education landscape is poised for significant expansion as three new international universities prepare to open campuses in the emirate for the 2025–26 academic year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced.
The incoming institutions include the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad), whose Business and Management programme ranks 27th globally in the QS World University Rankings by subject. Also joining are the American University of Beirut, ranked 237th globally, and Saudi Arabia’s Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, a Dubai Media Office report said.
Read-Dubai’s higher education sector sees nearly 20% rise in enrollment
The KHDA noted that discussions are ongoing with several other international universities, signaling continued interest in establishing a presence in Dubai.
“Dubai’s initiative to attract top-tier global universities, endorsed by The Executive Council, reflects the emirate’s growing international stature,” said Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of KHDA’s Strategic Development Sector. “Thanks to the support of our visionary leadership, we’ve laid the groundwork to transform Dubai into a global hub for world-class education.”
Dr Dawood added that the expansion aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Education 33 Strategy, both of which aim to increase the city’s global competitiveness, attract international students, and double Dubai’s economy over the next decade.
International recognition
Dubai is already home to 41 higher education institutions, 37 of which are international branch campuses offering a wide range of academic programmes. Among them, several universities are recognized globally for academic excellence.
The University of Manchester Dubai and the University of Birmingham Dubai are associated with home campuses ranked in the top 100 globally — at 35th and 76th respectively — according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. Additionally, Curtin University Dubai (183rd) and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (184th) rank within the top 200.
Dubai-based campuses also performed well in subject-specific rankings. In the field of Business and Management, institutions such as London Business School (7th), ESCP (54th), and Luiss University (67th) earned high marks. In the arts, Instituto Marangoni, which specializes in design education, is ranked between 51st–100th globally in Art and Design.
Vision for 2033
The expansion of international education offerings is part of a broader strategy under Education 33, which aims to reshape Dubai’s education sector.
Key targets include:
- Growing international student enrolment to comprise 50 per cent of all higher education students in Dubai by 2033.
- Increasing educational tourism tenfold.
- Integrating more Emiratis into future-focused industries.
- Contributing Dhs5.6bn to the higher education sector’s GDP.
- Establishing Dubai among the top 10 global destinations for university study.
The strategy also promotes a hybrid educational model combining transnational and national education, with a focus on research, innovation, and collaboration across economic sectors.
Rising enrollment figures
Dubai’s appeal as a higher education hub continues to grow. In the 2024–25 academic year, total student enrolment at private higher education institutions increased by 20 per cent, with international student enrolment rising by 29 per cent.
A record 42,026 students are now enrolled across the 41 private institutions in the emirate — the highest figure to date.
These institutions collectively offer more than 700 academic programmes, many designed to prepare students for emerging industries and careers aligned with Dubai’s long-term economic goals.
