Dubai KHDA Adds 17,000 School Seats and Global Universities for 2026-27

Dubai's private school enrolment reached 406,563 students at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year, representing a 4.6 percent rise from 388,731 students in June 2026, according to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). To meet growing demand, the emirate opened 26 new private educational institutions, bringing the total number of new institutions opened over the past two academic years to 51.

The newly opened institutions include seven private schools contributing nearly 17,000 places, 17 early childhood centres providing more than 1,700 seats, and two international higher education providers. In addition, the regulator confirmed that approximately 18,000 affordable school seats are scheduled to be added across Dubai over the next two academic years.

In higher education, the American University of Beirut opened its Dubai campus in September 2026, while China's Peking University HSBC Business School is scheduled to launch its MBA and Executive MBA programmes in Dubai in January 2027. Dubai's higher education sector has added 11 new institutions over the past three years, with overall enrolment expanding by 29 percent.

Speaking at a Media Majlis, KHDA Director-General Aisha Miran stated that the initiatives align with the emirate's Education 33 Strategy. Over the past two years, the regulator has introduced more than 20 initiatives and 28 regulatory frameworks and policies. Key priorities for the 2026-27 academic year include advancing artificial intelligence and financial literacy, strengthening future skills and career readiness, enhancing Arabic language instruction, and empowering parents through newly launched representative councils.