Emirates and KHDA Partner to Expand Travel Benefits for International Students in Dubai

Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on initiatives aimed at supporting Dubai’s development as an international destination for higher education, international students and lifelong learning.

The partnership combines Emirates’ global air connectivity with KHDA’s work in Dubai’s education sector. It will focus on improving travel accessibility for students, strengthening international outreach and promoting Dubai’s higher education opportunities in global markets.

The agreement supports the objectives of Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy, which seeks to increase the proportion of international students enrolled in Dubai’s higher education institutions to 50 per cent by 2033. The strategy also aims to place Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities and increase education tourism tenfold.

Emirates to provide dedicated travel benefits for students

Under the new agreement, Emirates will develop travel programmes offering benefits and privileges to students enrolled in KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions. The student travel proposition will include specially tailored fares, additional baggage allowances and greater flexibility when booking flights. These benefits will apply to journeys to and from Dubai as well as travel across the Emirates network.

The partnership will also extend travel benefits to faculty and teaching staff through the Emirates Academic Programme. Students participating in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme will receive dedicated travel support from Emirates as part of the collaboration. The measures are designed to address some of the practical aspects of international student mobility, particularly travel between students’ home countries and Dubai during their academic programmes.

Study Dubai to gain wider international exposure

Emirates will participate in Study Dubai student recruitment missions and international activation events alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and TECOM Group. The initiatives will target key international markets connected to Emirates’ global network and will promote Dubai’s higher education opportunities to prospective students.

The airline and KHDA will also share insights into international student travel flows and coordinate their marketing activities to promote Dubai as a higher education destination. This approach connects student recruitment with international transportation networks, allowing the partners to use travel-related insights and global connectivity as part of Dubai’s broader international education outreach.

Partnership signed during Arabian Travel Market 2026

The MoU between Emirates and KHDA was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market 2026. The agreement was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA.

Kazim said Emirates’ network of close to 140 destinations could help support Dubai’s efforts to attract students and their families from international markets. He also highlighted the importance of connectivity throughout the student journey, including travel during and after their studies.

According to Kazim, the partnership also supports Dubai’s wider Economic Agenda (D33) across areas including tourism, trade, logistics and education. Dr Wafi Dawood said attracting and retaining international talent is an important component of the E33 strategy. He said the agreement would improve accessibility, flexibility and connectivity for students while supporting a more seamless experience from enrolment through graduation.

Dawood also pointed to Emirates’ global network as a means of extending the reach of Study Dubai and connecting the programme with prospective students in key international markets.

Emirates becomes preferred airline for ICEF education travel

Emirates has also entered into a separate MoU with the International Consultants for Exhibitions and Fairs (ICEF), an international business-to-business network serving the education sector. Under the agreement, Emirates will become ICEF’s preferred airline for education travel. ICEF operates across more than 100 countries, connecting accredited education agencies with educational institutions through international events, training programmes and market intelligence platforms, including ICEF Monitor.

The new partnership will see Emirates and ICEF work together to develop dedicated travel propositions for ICEF-accredited education agencies and their student customers travelling across the Emirates network. The organisations will also explore services such as booking support and account management for ICEF member organisations.

Joint campaigns to target international students

The Emirates-ICEF partnership will include co-branded campaigns targeting international students and education professionals. Emirates will also participate in major ICEF events in Berlin, Dubai and the United States. These engagements are intended to strengthen the airline’s connection with education agencies, institutions and professionals involved in international student mobility.

The collaboration will therefore extend beyond flight benefits, creating opportunities for Emirates to engage more directly with the international education community and student recruitment ecosystem.

Training and education market intelligence included in agreement

The agreement between Emirates and ICEF also includes cooperation in training and market intelligence. Emirates will participate in ICEF Academy programmes for education agents, providing insights related to student travel and destination trends.

The airline will also contribute to ICEF conferences through speaking opportunities and industry partnerships, allowing travel-related perspectives to be incorporated into discussions involving international education. Through these activities, the partnership links student travel data and aviation connectivity with the broader international education sector.

Dubai strengthens focus on international student mobility

The Emirates-KHDA and Emirates-ICEF agreements come as Dubai continues to develop policies and programmes aimed at attracting more international students. The partnerships address several elements of the international student experience, from recruitment and travel arrangements to connectivity between students, families, education agencies and institutions.

For Dubai’s higher education sector, stronger links with an international airline and an education-sector network provide additional channels for reaching prospective students abroad. At the same time, the travel benefits outlined under the KHDA agreement focus on making movement to and from Dubai more convenient for students enrolled at participating institutions.

The initiatives form part of the wider effort under Education 33 to expand Dubai’s international student population and strengthen its position within the global higher education landscape.

Editor’s Note

Factors beyond the classroom increasingly shape international education. For students choosing where to study, the experience can also involve the ease of reaching a destination, the cost and flexibility of travel, connections with home and the support available throughout the academic journey. The Emirates-KHDA partnership highlights how transportation and education policies can intersect in shaping that wider student experience.

The agreements also illustrate the increasingly interconnected nature of international student recruitment. Universities and education authorities are not operating in isolation; airlines, recruitment agencies, tourism bodies and education networks can all influence how destinations reach prospective students. As Dubai pursues the targets outlined under its Education 33 strategy, the success of these initiatives will depend on how international students respond to the opportunities, costs, programmes, and overall experience offered by the emirate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Emirates-KHDA partnership about?

Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority have signed an MoU to collaborate on initiatives supporting Dubai’s international higher education ambitions. The agreement includes student travel benefits, international promotion and cooperation on student recruitment.

2. What travel benefits will students receive?

Students at KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions will have access to specially tailored fares, additional baggage allowances and greater booking flexibility for travel to and from Dubai and across the Emirates network.

3. Will faculty members receive travel benefits?

Yes. Faculty and teaching staff will be able to access travel benefits through the Emirates Academic Programme.

4. Does the agreement cover scholarship students?

Yes. Emirates will provide dedicated travel support for students participating in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme.

5. What is Dubai’s Education 33 strategy?

Education 33, or E33, is Dubai’s education strategy that includes a target of increasing the share of international students in the emirate’s higher education institutions to 50 per cent by 2033. It also aims to place Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities and increase education tourism tenfold.

6. How will Emirates support Study Dubai?

Emirates will participate in Study Dubai student recruitment missions and international activation events alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and TECOM Group.