Under the MoU, Emirates will introduce dedicated travel programmes offering a range of benefits to students enrolled at KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions.
Dubai-based Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have signed an agreement to support initiatives aimed at strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for higher education, international students and lifelong learning.
As part of the partnership, Emirates will introduce dedicated travel programmes offering a variety of benefits and privileges to students studying at private higher education institutions regulated by the KHDA.
Students will receive specially designed travel benefits, including discounted fares, additional baggage allowance and greater booking flexibility when travelling to and from Dubai or to destinations across the Emirates network.
Faculty members and teaching staff will also be eligible for travel benefits through the Emirates Academic Programme. In addition, the airline will offer dedicated travel assistance to students participating in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme.
The partnership with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy. It aims to make travel more accessible for students, strengthen Dubai’s international connectivity and promote initiatives such as City of Students and Study Dubai across major global markets.
The MoU was signed during Arabian Travel Market 2026 by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA.
As part of the collaboration, Emirates will participate in Study Dubai student recruitment campaigns and international promotional events alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and TECOM Group. These initiatives will showcase Dubai as an international study destination across key markets served by the airline.
Emirates and KHDA will also exchange insights on international student travel patterns and work together on marketing initiatives aimed at strengthening Dubai’s profile as a global centre for higher education.
Education forms an important part of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), with its objectives being advanced through the Education 33 (E33) strategy. Through its City of Students initiative, E33 aims to raise the share of international students enrolled in Dubai’s higher education institutions to 50% by 2033.
The strategy also targets placing Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities while increasing education tourism tenfold.
Partnership with ICEF
Emirates has also entered into an MoU with the International Consultants for Education and Fairs (ICEF), a major B2B network in the international education sector, becoming its preferred airline for education-related travel. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
Operating across more than 100 countries, ICEF connects accredited education agencies with institutions worldwide through industry events, professional training and market intelligence platforms, including ICEF Monitor.
Through the partnership, Emirates and ICEF will work together to introduce dedicated travel offers for ICEF-accredited agencies and their student customers flying across the Emirates network. The two organisations also plan to explore booking assistance and account-management services for ICEF members.
The collaboration will include joint promotional campaigns aimed at international students and education professionals. Emirates will also participate in major ICEF events in Berlin, Dubai and the US, expanding its presence within the global education sector.
Training and market intelligence will form another part of the agreement. Emirates will take part in ICEF Academy programmes for education agents, exchange insights on student travel patterns and destination trends, and participate in ICEF conferences through speaking engagements and industry partnership opportunities.
