• The event, hosted by Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, in collaboration with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of Dubai’s higher education sector

• Discussions highlighted the strength of the higher education sector and its global academic standing

• The Knowledge Assembly follows the recent announcement of the founding committee members of Dubai’s Higher Education Leadership Network (HELN)

Dubai, UAE, 26 October 2026: The Knowledge Assembly, an annual event hosted by Dubai International Academic City, and Dubai Knowledge Park, in collaboration with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), brought together senior representatives from government, academia, and industry at Dubai Knowledge Park to discuss the future of Dubai’s higher education sector, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Education 33 (E33) Strategy.

The event builds on the strategic partnership between KHDA, Dubai International Academic City, and Dubai Knowledge Park to strengthen the higher education sector and reinforce Dubai’s position as a world-class learning destination. This year’s edition was co-curated with QS Quacquarelli Symonds, bringing an independent international perspective to discussions on the higher education sector’s development.

The gathering featured speeches from leaders in Dubai’s higher education ecosystem, including Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, and Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, part of TECOM Group. The panel discussion, titled ‘From Destination to Distinction: Building Dubai’s Global Academic Standing’, brought together senior leaders and representatives from KHDA, Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), and QS Quacquarelli Symonds to discuss the emirate’s higher education sector and its global academic standing.

Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, said: “Dubai’s higher education sector plays a vital role in advancing the objectives of the Education 33 Strategy and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by developing talent, fostering innovation and strengthening the emirate’s global competitiveness. Realising this ambition requires sustained collaboration between government, academia and industry to ensure higher education remains responsive to the evolving needs of learners, the economy, and the labour market. Platforms such as The Knowledge Assembly are important in strengthening these connections and helping shape a future-ready higher education ecosystem that supports knowledge creation, nurtures talent and contributes to Dubai’s long-term development.”

“Collaboration among key stakeholders around shared priorities is essential to supporting the sustainable growth of the higher education sector,” said Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, part of TECOM Group. “The Knowledge Assembly provides a strategic platform that brings together decision-makers, higher education institutions, and the business community to strengthen collaboration and foster dialogue, contributing to the sector’s continued growth and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global pioneering hub for higher education and lifelong learning.”

As part of wider efforts to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park also announced a strategic partnership with Together We Empower (+twe), an in5 start-up and AI-powered education and career platform. The collaboration will enable students from universities and vocational institutions within the districts’ ecosystem to explore internship and job opportunities, as well as career-readiness tools offered by the +twe platform.

The Knowledge Assembly follows the recent announcement about the founding committee members of Dubai’s Higher Education Leadership Network (HELN). Announced last year at the first edition of The Knowledge Assembly, HELN is a strategic network jointly developed by KHDA, Dubai International Academic City, and Dubai Knowledge Park to bring together higher education, government, and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration, foster dialogue and better align talent development with the evolving needs of the labour market. The network’s founding committee brings together 13 leaders from various sectors including government, technology, logistics, healthcare, aviation, and higher education, reflecting HELN’s cross-sector approach to shaping the future of higher education. Furthermore, HELN aims to strengthen collaboration between higher education and industry, while contributing to the objectives of Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Education 33 (E33) strategy.

Dubai International Academic City, the address of academic excellence in the region, and Dubai Knowledge Park, the region’s leading hub for lifelong learning, are home to globally leading higher education institutions and universities. Together, they are part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of 10 business districts, which include Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Industrial City.

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