Emirates Partners with KHDA to Offer Special Fares and Benefits for Dubai College Students
Emirates and KHDA collaborate to provide tailored travel benefits and support for students at Dubai's private higher education institutions.
Emirates has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to enhance travel options and benefits for students enrolled in private higher education institutions regulated by KHDA.
The agreement aims to support Dubai's goal of becoming a premier global hub for higher education, international students, and lifelong learning. As part of the partnership, Emirates will introduce travel programs offering specially tailored fares, additional baggage allowances, and increased booking flexibility for students traveling to and from Dubai and across the airline’s global network.
Faculty and academic staff will also benefit through the Emirates Academic Programme, while students participating in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme will receive dedicated travel assistance.
This collaboration aligns with Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy, which seeks to boost student accessibility, enhance international connectivity, and promote initiatives such as the City of Students game changer and the Study Dubai programme in key global markets.
The MoU was signed during the Arabian Travel Market 2026 event by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of Strategic Development Sector at KHDA.
Additionally, Emirates will join Study Dubai’s student recruitment missions and international promotional activities alongside KHDA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and TECOM Group to position Dubai as a leading destination for global students.
Both Emirates and KHDA will collaborate on sharing data regarding international student travel patterns and coordinate marketing efforts to highlight Dubai’s status as a top higher education destination.
Education forms a key pillar of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), implemented through the E33 strategy. This strategy aims to increase the share of international students in Dubai’s higher education institutions to 50 percent by 2033 and elevate Dubai into the top 10 student cities worldwide, while also expanding education tourism tenfold.
Partnership with ICEF
In a related development, Emirates has signed an MoU with the International Consultants for Exhibitions and Fairs (ICEF), a leading global B2B network in international education, designating Emirates as the preferred airline for education travel.
ICEF operates in over 100 countries, connecting accredited education agencies with institutions through events, training, and market intelligence platforms such as ICEF Monitor.
Under this partnership, Emirates and ICEF will develop dedicated travel offerings for ICEF-accredited agencies and their student clients, exploring options for booking support and account management for ICEF members.
The collaboration will also include co-branded campaigns targeting international students and education professionals, with Emirates participating in major ICEF events held in Berlin, Dubai, and the United States to enhance its presence within the global education sector.
Furthermore, Emirates will engage in ICEF Academy training programs for education agents, share insights on student travel and destination trends, and contribute to ICEF conferences through speaking engagements and industry partnerships.