The higher education enrollment in Dubai will grow 40% by 2030 as global students are being attracted

This growth is reflected in the over 40 percent increase that student enrollments in Dubai's higher education are expected to see before the year 2030.

That is according to a new whitepaper from the Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, collectively termed the Education Cluster of TECOM Group PJSC. The report entitled, Future Skills and the Workforce of Tomorrow was developed in association with Times Higher Education.

The announcement follows the British Council's Going Global conference in London, attended by international education leaders, to help shape the future of higher education and alludes to growing opportunities for universities and institutions as Dubai strengthens its position as a global hub for talent and innovation.

"Education has the power to change the face of individual prosperity and our collective economic growth, and we must work together in order to futureproof our sector for the greater good," said Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park, and Dubai Science Park, which are part of Tecom Group PJSC.

"Future Skills and the Workforce of Tomorrow, developed in partnership with THE, underlines a way ahead for education institutes on how to take advantage of the opportunities to grow student intake and build robust pathways from higher education into work. The higher education sector here will continue to grow, powered by the Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' and Education 33 Strategy 'E33', while our Education Cluster remains committed to offering an integrated educational ecosystem and further developing relations with decision-makers and academics with a view to sealing the position of the city as one of the world's premier centers of higher education." It is estimated that more than 42,000 students will be enrolled in higher education institutions in Dubai for the 2024-25 academic year, a figure likely to rise sharply by over 40% by 2029-30. This new growth reflects the rising popularity of the city among international students, the report says, with the number of its higher education providers increasing by 37 percent in just two years. Recent arrivals have included the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, IIMA, which officially opened its maiden overseas campus at Dubai International Academic City in September 2025. Today, more students want to go to Dubai because of the career-oriented nature of its programs and strong industry links. Indeed, one report found that 73 percent chose Dubai because of jobs available and wanting to stay and work in the city when graduating. Employers share that confidence too: 88 percent of those polled said graduates from Dubai's universities have the skills needed in the workplace and further add to the reputation the city has as a bridge between education and employment. Dubai: The Emerging Global Education Hub Over the last twenty years, Dubai has risen as a favored destination for international education, buoyed by infrastructure that is world-class, matched by a progressive attitude and approach from the government. Currently, the city hosts 41 private providers of higher education, encompassing 37 international branch campuses that represent 12 different countries. Some of the world's most prestigious universities, including the University of Manchester, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Strathclyde Business School, operate within the Tecom Group's Education Cluster. Dubai's Economic Agenda D33 and Education 33 Strategy E33 support the government's vision to make sure that a pool of future-ready talent is created while continuing to position the city as a global learning and innovation destination. A diverse business ecosystem in Dubai-particularly represented by its 10 specialized business districts under the Tecom Group-provides students with hands-on experiences while connecting to industries that shape the future of the economy.