Dubai drive to become international education powerhouse

Juwai IQI, a leading global real estate and proptech group, has highlighted that 2025 will mark big gains in Dubai’s ambitions to become an international education powerhouse.

Kashif Ansari, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Juwai IQI, pointed out that Dubai’s has a strategy called ‘Education 33’ that aims to make the emirate one of the world’s top-10 education destinations by 2033. That would require 10X growth in student numbers by 2033. These goals might have seemed ambitious when they were announced, but now global events have turned in Dubai’s favour.

Ansari believes Dubai is exceptionally well prepared to absorb the shift. The bold move to offer every Dubai resident a complimentary subscription to ChatGPT Plus is an example of its forward-looking leadership. At regular prices, that would cost the emirate nearly $80 million.

“Dubai is incredibly well placed for this moment. While other top education destinations like the UK, Canada, and Australia are limiting international student numbers, the number enrolled in Dubai’s private higher education sector grew by 25% last year.

“Today, the UAE is home to more than 237,000 international students and 57 international branch campuses. Many are located in Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah also host institutions such as NYU Abu Dhabi and the American University of Sharjah.

Ansairi said Dubai will reap many benefits when it succeeds in this quest.

“Perhaps most importantly,” he said, “it would create a thriving educational system that would provide the best opportunities to Dubai’s own young people.

“It would also add another powerful export sector to the emirate’s economy and boost spending in other areas such as housing, retail, and services. Every international student boosts the US economy by an average of about $44,000.”