Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced the establishment of the National University of Dubai — a landmark institution backed by a Dh4.5 billion ($1.22 billion) investment over its first five years. The university is designed to rank among the top 50 young universities in the world within a decade, and among the top 200 globally within 20 years.
A Vision for Future-Ready Emirati Education
The announcement was made through Sheikh Mohammed's official X account on 9 September 2024, coinciding with World Government Summit Day. He framed the university as distinctly Emirati in character, built to offer specialised, future-oriented academic programmes grounded in national values and global ambitions.
"The real challenge is to produce generations capable of managing change and utilising it to develop a better future for ourselves and our country," Sheikh Mohammed said, underscoring the institution's role in building the UAE's next generation of leaders.
Unlike conventional universities, Sheikh Mohammed described the National University of Dubai as a "lamp of learning" and a birthplace for the first generation of Emirati youth educated under this new vision.
Leadership Structure
The university's leadership was announced alongside the founding declaration:
- President: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai - Vice President: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai - Chairman of the Board of Trustees: Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
The Board of Trustees also includes Omar Sultan Al Olama, Helal Saeed Al Marri, Aisha Abdulla Miran, Ahmed bin Byat, and Professor Alawi Al Sheikh Ali.
A Global Advisory Board of international experts has also been formed, including economist Dr. Mohamed El-Erian, Saeb Eigner, Professor Fadel Adib, and entrepreneur Fadi Ghandour.
Strategic Goals: Research, Innovation, and Global Rankings
Dubai National University will place particular emphasis on research output and innovation, targeting a top-three ranking among UAE universities for research within ten years. Admission will be highly competitive, based on international standards, and open to outstanding students from the UAE and around the world.
The institution is a flagship project under the Dubai Social Agenda 33, reinforcing Dubai's ambition to become a global hub for higher education and scientific research while producing a highly skilled, values-driven generation of Emirati professionals and leaders.
Strengthening Dubai's Education Ecosystem
The establishment of Dubai National University reflects the UAE's broader commitment to elevating its higher education sector to international standards. By concentrating on research, creative thinking, and leadership development, the university is positioned to enhance Dubai's standing as a regional education powerhouse — one that competes on the world stage while remaining rooted in Emirati identity and values.
