In an effort to establish Dubai as a hub for exceptional students from around the globe and a base for leading international academic institutions, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced the opening of three new branches of international universities in Dubai for the academic year 2025-2026. The newly added universities include the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, which offers an MBA program and ranks 27th globally according to the QS World University Rankings for 2026, along with the American University of Beirut, ranked 237th, and the Fakih Medical Sciences University.
Dubai is witnessing a growing interest from numerous prestigious global universities looking to establish their presence in the emirate. Several applications are currently under review or awaiting final approval.
### Future Vision
Dr. Wafi Dawood, the Executive Director of Strategic Development at KHDA, stated, “Dubai’s initiative to attract top global universities, endorsed by the Executive Council of Dubai, reflects the emirate’s international status and showcases the unwavering support of our leadership to position Dubai among the foremost global destinations for students and prestigious higher education institutions.”
Dawood added, “The attraction of leading international universities aligns with ambitious targets outlined in the Dubai 2033 plan and its economic and social agendas, as well as the Education Strategy for Dubai 2033. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of Dubai graduates on both regional and international levels, boost educational tourism tenfold by 2033, integrate the emerging Emirati generation into the job market and promising sectors, and significantly enlarge Dubai’s economy to rank among the top three economic cities globally within the next decade.”
### International Reputation
The licensed higher education institutions under KHDA have recorded an unprecedented increase in student enrollment, reaching a boost of 20% for the academic year 2024-2025. The total number of licensed higher education institutions has risen to 41, including 37 branches of international universities, which collectively attract 42,026 students across approximately 706 diverse academic programs. All these initiatives are focused on preparing and equipping learners with future-ready skills, aligning with the goals of the Education Strategy for Dubai 2033.
Among these institutions, two parent universities of branches in Dubai rank within the top 100 universities worldwide according to the QS World University Rankings for 2026. The University of Manchester – Dubai is ranked 35th, while the University of Birmingham – Dubai holds the 76th position. Additionally, the parent universities for Curtin University – Dubai and the University of Wollongong in Dubai rank among the top 200 universities globally, at positions 183 and 184, respectively. Furthermore, Dubai is home to three other international university branches classified within the top 300 worldwide according to the same ranking.
### Leading Programs
According to the QS World University Rankings for 2026 by subject, several higher education institutions that have opened branches in Dubai are recognized among the world’s best in business management. Notable mentions include the London Business School, which ranks seventh globally, HEC Paris at 54th, and Luiss University at 67th. Moreover, the Marangoni Institute, a prominent institution specializing in higher education programs in design, is classified between 51 and 100 in the arts and design category.
### Diverse Options
Dubai’s initiative to attract top global universities will create an advanced educational environment characterized by a blend of cross-border education and national programs that invest in education, research, and international collaboration across various economic sectors. The goal is for international students to constitute 50% of the total student population enrolled in higher education institutions in the emirate by 2033, contributing 5.6 billion dirhams directly to the higher education sector’s GDP, and positioning Dubai among the top 10 cities worldwide for university study.