KHDA confirms IIM Ahmedabad, AUB, and Fakeeh College to open Dubai campuses as part of Education 33 strategy
In a landmark move to strengthen its reputation as a global education hub, Dubai will welcome three world-renowned universities in the 2025-26 academic year: the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad), the American University of Beirut (AUB), and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences from Saudi Arabia, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed the arrival of these prestigious institutions. IIM Ahmedabad, ranked 27th globally for Business and Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, will be the first Indian Institute of Management to establish a campus in the UAE. AUB, currently ranked 237th overall in the QS World University Rankings, and Fakeeh College will further diversify Dubai’s growing portfolio of top-tier global institutions.
Strengthening Dubai’s Global Academic Presence
Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of Strategic Development at KHDA, said this expansion aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Education 33 Strategy. “This initiative reflects the emirate’s international stature and our leadership’s commitment to building a globally competitive education system. Our ambition is to make Dubai a magnet for academic excellence,” he stated.
The initiative aims to:
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Enhance global competitiveness of Dubai graduates
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Grow educational tourism tenfold by 2033
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Double Dubai’s economy
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Integrate Emiratis into future-oriented sectors
A Thriving Higher Education Ecosystem
Dubai currently hosts 41 private international universities, 37 of which are branch campuses of globally ranked institutions. These include the University of Manchester Dubai (ranked 35th globally), the University of Birmingham Dubai (76th), Curtin University (183rd), and the University of Wollongong (184th).
In Business and Management, Dubai is already home to institutions like:
- London Business School – ranked 7th globally
- ESCP – ranked 54th
- Luiss University – ranked 67th
Additionally, Instituto Marangoni, a leader in fashion and design, ranks within the global top 100 for Art and Design.
Targeting Global Students and a Future-Ready Workforce
This university expansion is part of a broader plan to attract international students and strengthen Dubai’s research ecosystem. By 2033, Dubai aims for international students to represent 50% of its higher education population, contributing approximately Dh5.6 billion ($1.524 billion USD) to the education sector’s GDP.
Already, enrolment at Dubai’s private universities has surged by 20% in 2024-25, with international student numbers rising by 29%. Currently, 42,026 students are enrolled across over 700 academic programmes tailored to future industries.
