Dubai is strengthening its push to build a future-ready education ecosystem, with the Knowledge Fund Establishment unveiling its 2026 to 2028 strategic plan to scale investment, expand capacity, and strengthen national talent pipelines.

Aligned with the Dubai Education Strategy 2033 and broader frameworks such as the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Social Agenda S33, the plan signals a clear shift from planning to execution. The focus is on delivering measurable outcomes across the education sector by 2028.

At its core, the strategy is built around three priorities. These include enabling high-impact education initiatives, improving the efficiency of educational asset allocation, and strengthening financial sustainability to support long-term sector growth.

As part of this next phase, KFE is scaling existing programs while introducing new mechanisms to expand access and improve learning outcomes. The Dubai Schools project, for instance, is entering a new growth cycle, with more than 1,000 seats expected to be added annually, bringing total capacity to over 7,000 students. This expansion is further supported by the upcoming Nad Al Sheba campus, reflecting rising demand for education models that combine global standards with national identity.

At the same time, the Dubai Distinguished Students Program is set to expand beyond its current network of more than 20 schools, with ambitions to reach Emirati students across the UAE. This reflects a broader focus on nurturing future leadership and investing in local talent.

The Young Investor Program is also being scaled, transitioning from the pilot stage to a wider rollout across schools and age groups, with a target of reaching more than 20,000 students by 2028. The move highlights a growing emphasis on financial literacy and entrepreneurship as core components of education.

Beyond programs, the strategy places significant emphasis on enabling sector growth through infrastructure. KFE plans to accelerate the allocation of educational assets in priority areas, unlocking more than 35,000 new student seats through over 30 projects by 2028. This approach positions land and infrastructure not just as enablers, but as strategic tools to attract high-quality operators and diversify education offerings.

A key part of this effort includes closer coordination with regulators and investors to better align supply with demand. This is expected to support the expansion of low-fee private schools, improving affordability while maintaining quality.

Financial sustainability also features prominently in the roadmap. Backed by an investment portfolio exceeding AED1 billion, KFE is pursuing a more diversified revenue strategy to fund education initiatives. This includes exploring new investment opportunities and establishing a formal endowment fund to support scholarships, research, and innovation.

The proposed endowment is expected to serve as a long-term funding mechanism while offering a structured platform for donors and partners to contribute to the sector’s development.

Ahmed Abdul Karim Julfar, Chairman of the Board of the Knowledge Fund Establishment, said the strategy reflects Dubai’s ambition to strengthen its position as a global hub for knowledge and innovation by deepening investment in education and forging stronger partnerships.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of KFE, added that the plan is designed as an execution-focused framework, aligning education outcomes more closely with the needs of the future economy while driving tangible, long-term impact across both the sector and society.