June 28, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: In a move that speaks directly to the hopes and uncertainties of young people and their families, Dubai has introduced a sweeping education policy and Dubai student visa policy that goes far beyond academics. It’s more than reform it’s reassurance. Dubai is offering belief in students’ potential, their dreams, and their right to a future that feels possible.

Approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, this policy plan includes a reformed Dubai student visa system – expanded international scholarships, and a national commitment to securing jobs for Dubai graduates that matches what they’re studying. “Youth are the architects of the future,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “We are giving them the tools, the space, and the guidance to build it with confidence and purpose.”

From Classroom Dreams to Real Careers

For the thousands of students in Dubai wondering, What’s next for me?, this plan offers a powerful answer: you belong in this future and Dubai is building it with you in mind.The new Dubai student visa programme will make it easier for global learners to study and stay in the emirate. New international scholarships will ensure that talent, not wealth, opens doors. And at the heart of it all, a bold promise: by 2033, 90% of students will graduate directly into careers that match their field fulfilling the promise of real, rewarding jobs for Dubai graduates.

From the high school student dreaming of artificial intelligence, to the arts graduate hoping to teach, this plan recognises each path as valid and worth supporting. It connects education with employability, so that no one is left asking, “Now what?” after graduation.

Dubai aims for international students to make up 50% of all university enrolments by 2033, supported by more than 70 globally-ranked institutions. And for Emirati youth, the message is equally clear: your future is not an afterthought it’s a priority.

Helping Students Navigate the “In-Between”

This policy goes beyond grades and graduation rates. It acknowledges something often overlooked the emotional, confusing space between leaving school and entering the world. That uncertain “in-between” where many students feel lost.

To guide them through it, Dubai is launching a comprehensive Academic and Career Guidance Policy. Schools will have trained counsellors offering tailored advice, not just generic checklists. Career coaching, personality matching, and goal-setting will help students not only find a job but find the right job.

This approach is essential to achieving the goal of meaningful jobs for Dubai graduates. It’s not just about hiring statistics it’s about making sure graduates feel proud of the work they do. Entrepreneurship programmes, life skills camps, mentorship networks, and job market platforms will support this vision. And for international students hoping to build a life here, the new Dubai student visa system will offer post-study work pathways, allowing them to grow alongside the city that invested in them.

Dubai aims for:

90% of students employed within their field
80% of schools offering high-quality career advice
70% of students admitted into one of their top three university or career choices

But behind those numbers are thousands of real-life turning points first interviews, first paychecks, and the quiet confidence that comes from being seen and supported.

A City That Grows With Its People

While education took the spotlight, the Executive Council also passed other key policies that reflect Dubai’s commitment to quality of life because growing a future also means protecting the present. The Air Quality Strategy 2030 aims to ensure clean air on 90% of days. This ensures better health fir the people living there. These aren’t isolated actions they are all part of a larger vision. One where education, environment, and infrastructure move together to create a city where dreams aren’t just imagined they’re lived.

Dubai’s new reforms are not just about fixing broken systems. They’re about honouring people. About recognising that behind every Dubai student visa application is someone full of questions, and behind every CV is someone hoping to be chosen.

So yes, these policies are about scholarships. Yes, they’re about expanding jobs for Dubai graduates. But more than anything, they’re about something even greater belonging. About making sure every student knows: you matter here, and your future is worth building. Dubai isn’t just making it’s students ready for tomorrow, it’s supporting them and proving them with everything they require in this journey.