Dubai’s private higher education sector is booming, with student enrolments reaching record highs for the 2024-25 academic year. According to Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the city saw a 20 percent year-on-year increase in enrolments, with 42,026 students now enroled across 41 licenced institutions, 37 of which are international campuses.
The surge reflects Dubai’s growing appeal as a global education destination. International student enrolment jumped by 29 percent, now accounting for 35 percent of all students in the sector. The city aims to boost that figure to fifty percent by 2033 under its ambitious ‘City of Students Game Changer’ initiative, which supports its broader Education 33 strategy.
Local enrolment also saw strong growth, with Emirati student numbers up by 22 percent, signalling rising trust in the quality and relevance of Dubai’s private universities.
Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA attributed the growth to the sector’s focus on future-ready education and said, "Our universities are equipping students with the skills and mindset needed for emerging industries and the jobs of tomorrow, ensuring that graduates are not only employable, but future ready".
This year also saw the opening of four new international universities from China, India, Russia, and Italy, further diversifying Dubai’s academic landscape.
Students can now choose from 706 accredited programmes, with the most popular degrees in business, IT, engineering, media and design and humanities. The fastest-growing fields include information technology, engineering, and health and medicine, pointing to a rising demand for technical and healthcare talent.