Private higher education institutions in Dubai have recorded their highest-ever number of international students.
Dubai is becoming an increasingly popular destination for higher education, with 42,026 international students enrolled in its 41 private higher education institutions during the 2024-25 academic year, according to the latest figures released.
Aside from being the highest number to date, it represents a 29% increase in learners choosing to study in the region. In addition, there was also a 22% increase in enrolments from local students – in line with the government’s ambition for Dubai to become a centre for learning and knowledge.
To support the focus on higher education, four new private internationally based universities opened in the 2024-25 academic year, offering skills needed for a changing future, such as business, IT and engineering.
Working towards Dubai’s future
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has laid out plans for this transition, amidst the wider objectives for the future. Its Plan D33 concentrates on doubling the size of the local economy over the next ten years, while Plan E33 aims to build a high-quality education system that is recognised globally and that powers the regional knowledge economy.
