Dubai strengthens its global higher education hub status with the launch of three international university campuses: IIM Ahmedabad, AUB, and Fakeeh College.
Dubai: Dubai is reinforcing its position as a world-class higher education destination, with three prominent international institutions confirmed to open campuses in the 2025–26 academic year. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, the American University of Beirut (AUB), and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences from Saudi Arabia will be joining the emirate’s thriving education landscape.
This move, announced by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), supports the broader goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Education 33 Strategy. The initiative seeks to enhance graduate competitiveness, tenfold growth in educational tourism by 2033, and deeper integration of Emirati youth into future industries.
Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of KHDA’s Strategic Development Sector, stated: “Dubai’s visionary leadership is investing in an educational ecosystem that rivals global benchmarks. This expansion supports the city’s ambition to become a global hub for academic excellence and economic innovation.”
Dubai already hosts 41 international higher education providers—37 of which are international branch campuses. Four of their home campuses are ranked among the top 200 globally in the QS World University Rankings, including the University of Manchester (35th), University of Birmingham (76th), Curtin University (183rd), and University of Wollongong (184th).
The emirate also boasts strong representation in subject-specific QS rankings. Notable mentions include London Business School (7th in Business & Management), ESCP (54th), Luiss University (67th), and Instituto Marangoni, ranked in the top 100 for Art and Design.
The ongoing university attraction project aims to have international students comprise 50% of total enrolments by 2033, contributing AED 5.6 billion to the sector’s GDP and cementing Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s top 10 higher education cities.
Recent statistics underscore this upward trajectory: student enrolment rose 20% overall and 29% among international students in the 2024–25 academic year, totalling over 42,000 students across Dubai’s private institutions.
With more than 700 academic programmes on offer and a firm focus on future-ready education, Dubai’s global higher education momentum continues to soar.
