Dubai: New student visas, scholarships, jobs for 90% of pupils in fresh policies
Strategy aims to place Dubai among top 10 student cities by 2033
DUBAI: In a bold move to reshape the education and employment landscape of the emirate, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has approved a wide-ranging set of policies designed to propel Dubai into a top-tier academic and innovation hub.
The policies were endorsed during a meeting of The Executive Council held at Emirates Towers, attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The approved initiatives span education, employment, environmental strategy, construction governance, and legal mediation – aimed at cementing Dubai’s global competitiveness across sectors.
Today, I chaired The Executive Council meeting and approved a set of policies and strategies to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for education and future-ready talent. We approved a project to attract top international universities, aiming to position Dubai among the… pic.twitter.com/dBQJAN2kGT
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 26, 2025
Global university push
Among the most impactful policies is a project to attract leading international universities to Dubai. Spearheaded by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the plan seeks to elevate the emirate into the top 10 cities worldwide for students by 2033.
Dubai currently hosts 37 international university branches, including prestigious names like Curtin University Dubai and University of Wollongong in Dubai – both ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2026 top 200 – as well as the University of Birmingham Dubai and the University of Manchester Dubai. The new project envisions increasing the number of higher education institutions in Dubai to over 70, with 11 ranking in the global top 200.
By 2033, international students are expected to make up 50% of the student body across Dubai’s universities, with the higher education sector projected to contribute around Dh5.6 billion to Dubai’s GDP.
To support this expansion, the strategy outlines enhancements to the student visa system, the introduction of international scholarships, and the provision of post-graduate work visas. A Higher Education Investment Fund and the Dubai Scientific Research Network will also be launched to attract investment and innovation.
Career guidance upgrade
Another key policy approved is the Academic and Career Guidance Policy, designed to ensure students can seamlessly transition from education to employment. This KHDA-led initiative will enhance career guidance services in schools and universities, introduce life skills camps, promote entrepreneurship programmes, and provide access to job market information platforms.
The policy sets a target for 90% of Emirati students to gain employment within six months of graduation, with the same employment rate envisioned for the broader student population. Furthermore, it aims for 80% of education providers in Dubai to deliver effective career advice and for 70% of graduates to secure one of their top three career or university preferences.
The initiative includes new standards for career advisory services, parent-student engagement schemes, and collaboration with local and global universities and training institutes. It also supports the broader goals of Dubai’s Education Strategy 2033, focusing on equipping youth with practical, academic, and research skills aligned with market needs.
Environmental standards elevated
Addressing environmental priorities, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the Air Quality Strategy 2030, which sets the target of achieving clean air standards on 90% of days by the end of the decade.
Led by the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority, in coordination with agencies such as Dubai Municipality, DEWA, RTA, and Emirates Global Aluminium, the strategy aims to reduce PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) levels to 35 micrograms per cubic metre. It also targets reductions in pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ground-level ozone.
The policy is a cornerstone of Dubai’s sustainability efforts and is expected to improve the health and wellbeing of residents while supporting biodiversity and environmental resilience.
Legal dispute resolution boost
A key legal reform came in the form of the Dubai International Mediation Centre, approved during the same session. The centre aims to strengthen Dubai’s legal and business environment by offering low-cost, efficient, and globally recognised dispute resolution services.
The initiative is jointly developed by the Legal Affairs Department of the Government of Dubai and the ADR Centre, a leading European mediation institution. It is expected to significantly boost Dubai’s international standing in the field of alternative dispute resolution, a factor tracked by the Civil Justice Project’s competitiveness indices.
By offering trusted mediation services, the centre aims to attract foreign direct investment and create new jobs in legal and arbitration services.
Construction project governance
The Governance Policy for Government Construction Projects, another vital measure, introduces a new framework to enhance efficiency and accountability in public sector construction. Overseen by the Dubai Department of Finance, the policy categorises construction projects based on value: below Dh200 million, between Dh200–500 million, and above Dh500 million.
The initiative aims to align project planning with Dubai’s fiscal goals, directing capital to high-impact development while fostering transparency. It supports the long-term goal of increasing government spending from Dh512 billion over the past decade to Dh700 billion in the next decade, in accordance with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The policy also mandates the creation of a five-year project portfolio to prioritise and align spending with strategic economic and social outcomes.