KHDA, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park signed a strategic partnership to attract top talent, boost research, and align higher education with Dubai’s innovation goals.
DUBAI: In a major step towards enhancing Dubai’s global position in higher education, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has signed a strategic partnership with Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, both part of TECOM Group PJSC. The collaboration aims to support the emirate’s knowledge economy and advance its ambition of becoming a world-class education hub.
The agreement was formalised during “The Knowledge Assembly” event, hosted by TECOM Group’s Education Cluster and KHDA. It aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and Education 33 (E33) Strategy — both key to shaping the emirate’s future in innovation, research, and industry-aligned learning.
Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA, attended the signing ceremony alongside Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group. The partnership was signed by Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, and Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park.
Dr Kharbash highlighted that the collaboration underscores Dubai’s strategy to position itself as a centre for knowledge and innovation. “Dubai’s ambition to be a global hub for knowledge and innovation depends on strong collaboration across the higher education ecosystem,” he said.
A key outcome of the partnership is the launch of the ‘Higher Education Leadership Network’, a sector-wide platform for strategic alignment and collaborative innovation. This network will unite academia, government and industry to enhance student experiences, promote research, and support entrepreneurship pathways.
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi noted that such partnerships are essential to ensure Dubai’s education system keeps pace with industry demands. “We are building on our strategic partnership with KHDA… ensuring Dubai’s educational offerings directly respond to the evolving needs of our industries and the global economy,” he said.
As part of the agreement, the partners will attract global academic institutions to Dubai through roadshows, delegation visits and joint events like the “Study Dubai Initiative”. The partnership will also focus on improving student life, supporting extracurricular activities, and promoting Dubai as an international education destination.
Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, home to top global universities and lifelong learning institutions, form TECOM Group’s Education Cluster. This initiative is part of TECOM’s broader portfolio of innovation-driven business districts including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Science Park.
