Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to partner on initiatives aimed at advancing Dubai's ambition to become a leading global destination for higher education, international students and lifelong learning, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday.

The partnership supports the goals of Dubai's Education 33 (E33) strategy by enhancing student accessibility, strengthening international connectivity and promoting the City of Students initiative and Study Dubai programme in key global markets, according to the statement.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 by Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr. Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA, the statement said.

Under the agreement, Emirates will develop travel programmes offering tailored fares, additional baggage allowance and greater booking flexibility for students at KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions, the airline said. Faculty and teaching staff will have access to travel benefits through the Emirates Academic Programme, while the airline will also provide dedicated travel support for students on the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme.

Emirates said it would join student recruitment missions for Study Dubai and international activation events alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and TECOM Group, and would coordinate with KHDA on marketing Dubai as a leading higher education destination.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the airline was proud to support KHDA's efforts to position Dubai as a top global destination for students. He said Emirates' network of close to 140 destinations put it in a strong position to bring students and their families to Dubai throughout the year, adding that the partnership would also help build a loyal base of younger travellers whose connection with the airline endures beyond graduation.

Dr. Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA, said attracting and retaining global talent was central to the E33 strategy and that the partnership with Emirates would make Dubai more accessible to students worldwide. He said the collaboration would help create a seamless learning journey from enrolment to graduation while strengthening the reach of the Study Dubai programme in international markets.

Under the E33 strategy's City of Students initiative, Dubai aims to raise the proportion of international students in its higher education institutions to 50 percent by 2033 and to position the city among the world's top 10 student destinations, according to the statement.

Separately, Emirates said it had signed another MoU with the International Consultants for Exhibitions and Fairs (ICEF), becoming its preferred airline for education travel. Under that agreement, Emirates and ICEF, which operates across more than 100 countries, will develop travel propositions for ICEF-accredited agencies and their student customers, alongside co-branded campaigns and Emirates' participation in ICEF training and market intelligence programmes, the statement said. — Emirates