The airline Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Resources Development Authority (KHDA) have signed an agreement aimed at promoting key initiatives to strengthen Dubai's ambitions to become a leading global higher education center, an international student hub, and a lifelong learning platform.
Under the terms of this agreement, Emirates will develop special travel programs that will include a range of privileges and benefits for students studying at private higher education institutions accredited by KHDA. These offers include specially designed fares, extra baggage allowance, and greater flexibility when booking trips to Dubai and throughout the Emirates network.
Furthermore, teachers and educators will gain access to travel discounts through the Emirates Academic Program. The airline will also provide specialized travel support for students participating in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Program.
This partnership with the Knowledge and Human Resources Development Authority supports the goals of the Dubai Education 33 (E33) strategy by increasing accessibility for students, enhancing international connectivity, and promoting the 'City of Students' concept and the Study Dubai program in key global markets.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 by Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, and Dr. Wafi Daoud, CEO of KHDA's Strategic Development Sector.
Emirates will also join KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and TECOM Group in Study Dubai student recruitment missions and international activation events, thereby promoting Dubai as an attractive global study destination in key markets within the Emirates network.
The airline and KHDA will exchange information on international student flows and coordinate joint marketing of Dubai as a leading educational destination.
Education is a vital initiative within the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and is implemented through the E33 strategy. As part of its 'City of Students' concept, E33 aims to increase the share of international students studying at Dubai's higher education institutions to fifty percent by 2033. The strategy also seeks to place Dubai among the top 10 student cities globally and increase educational tourism tenfold.
Emirates has also signed an MoU with International Career Events and Fairs (ICEF), a leading B2B network in the field of international education, making it its preferred carrier for educational travel. This memorandum was signed at ATM.
ICEF operates in over 100 countries, connecting accredited educational agencies with institutions worldwide through its events, training programs, and market analysis platforms, including ICEF Monitor.
As part of this collaboration, Emirates and ICEF will work on creating specialized travel packages for ICEF-accredited agencies and their students traveling on the airline's network, with plans to explore booking and account management support for ICEF member organizations.
The partnership also includes joint marketing campaigns targeting international students and education professionals, as well as Emirates' presence at major ICEF events in Berlin, Dubai, and the USA, further strengthening the airline's visibility in the global education community.
The agreement extends to market research and analysis. Emirates will participate in ICEF Academy programs for educational agents, share data on student travel and destination trends, and attend ICEF conferences with speaking and industry partnership opportunities.