The Dubai International Academic City is a centre of excellence in higher education, providing an established educational environment for academic institutions. The UAE has 37 International Branch Campuses, demonstrating the prestige of higher education in the country. The Dubai International Academic City or DIAC for short caters to students from all around the world and has been set up to provide the infrastructure and services that will allow academic institutions to flourish.
DIAC is the world’s only Free Zone dedicated to higher education. It was established in 2007 as part of TECOM Investments, and aims to develop the region’s talent pool and establish the UAE as a knowledge-based economy. It has become the premier destination for higher education in the region, with an 18 million sq. ft. campus hosting state-of-the-art learning facilities.
Currently making use of these modern facilities is 27 academic institutions from 11 countries, with the DIAC hosting over 20,000 students from over 137 nationalities. This showcases the cosmopolitan and multicultural nature of the region and the capacity of DIAC.
Students have access to over 300 higher education programmes, including Undergraduate and Post Graduate programmes, covering subjects such as Engineering, IT, Media, Business, Fashion Design, Healthcare, Mass Communications, and Media.
3 million square feet is dedicated to on-campus student accommodation, a modern sports centre complete with a gym, basketball and volleyball courts and a soccer pitch, and a students’ union that offers lounges, wellness centres and dining facilities. The students are supported by the Student Hub Team which is there to organise events such as sporting, social and cultural plus help with visa requirements.
The DIAC is also committed to developing an environmentally responsible campus. It has recently achieved a “Green” status and was also awarded Silver LEED certification. The DIAC is able to license segments such as; higher education Providers (Universities, Branch Universities and Junior Colleges), Online Universities, Management Development Centres, Education Service Providers (Academic Support and Student Support Services), Non-Academic Services Providers (Sports Facilities, Libraries, Accommodation) and Freelancers.
Partners of the DIAC will enjoy special privileges, including 100% foreign ownership, 100% tax-free operations, 100% repatriation of profits, and effortless visa and licensing issuance procedures for students, faculty and staff. DIAC business partners also benefit from partnerships with Government and regulatory authorities, as well as the DIAC educational infrastructure, developed to help grow your business.
The DIAC provides flexible solutions for its business partners with support from its loyal customer service team. It has a dedicated Partner Development Team that provides a platform supporting the exposure, visibility and growth of existing partners within DIAC, by developing initiatives for student recruitment, research and development, and organising on-going education events.
