The Emirates News Agency reported that the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and TECOM Group’s Education Cluster have established the founding committee for Dubai’s Higher Education Leadership Network. The committee brings together senior leaders to create a platform for strategic alignment, collaboration and thought leadership across the sector. The development supports the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and the Education 33 strategy aimed at strengthening the knowledge economy.
According to the announcement, the network was officially launched at The Knowledge Assembly hosted by TECOM Group’s Education Cluster in collaboration with the KHDA. The event convened leaders from academia, industry and government to examine higher education as an economic driver and explore ways to develop the next generation of founders and entrepreneurs. Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park are key partners in the initiative.
KHDA figures show that Dubai’s private higher education sector comprised 41 institutions during the 2024-25 academic year, including 37 international branch campuses from 13 countries. Student enrolment reached 42,026, a 20 percent increase from the previous year, while the number of international students who came to Dubai specifically to study rose 29 percent. Four new international universities from China, India, Russia and Italy opened in that period.
The network will coordinate policies to support research and innovation, establish pathways for student entrepreneurship and ensure future talent is industry-ready. It will also focus on enhancing student and academic experiences through extracurricular engagements. A related white paper from TECOM Group noted that the city may require an additional 10 to 15 international branch campuses to meet projected demand.
Dr. Saeed Kharbash said that “Dubai’s ambition to be a global hub for knowledge and innovation depends on strong collaboration across the higher education ecosystem.” He added that the partnership with Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park along with the launch of the Higher Education Leadership Network is an important step in realizing that vision. Through Education 33 and collaborative efforts authorities will continue to attract the world’s best talent, strengthen research and innovation, and provide students with an experience that reflects Dubai’s vision as a city of the future.
The Higher Education Leadership Network builds on sustained growth in Dubai’s higher education sector, where enrolment has risen from 25,253 students in the 2020-21 academic year to more than 42,000 in 2024-25, according to KHDA data. International students now account for around 35 percent of the total student body, with a target of 50 percent by 2033 under the Education 33 strategy. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to position Dubai as a global education hub.
