Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus is a satellite campus of Heriot-Watt University, a historic British university with origins dating back to 1821.

Established in 2005, it was the first overseas university campus to open in Dubai International Academic City, marking a pioneering step in international higher education in the region. The Dubai campus initially started with 120 students and rapidly expanded due to increasing demand, reaching a capacity of around 2,000 students by 2010.

To accommodate growth, the university opened a purpose-built campus in Dubai International Academic City in 2011, designed to host up to 4,500 students. In 2021, the campus relocated to Dubai Knowledge Park, a premier educational and business hub, to provide a modern, digitally enabled learning environment.

The Dubai campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields including management, engineering, the built environment, food science, fashion, data science, computing, AI, psychology, architecture, design, construction, and finance. It is recognized for its world-class teaching, research excellence, and strong industry connections, which ensure practical and employable skills for graduates.

The campus community is highly international, with students from over 115 nationalities. Heriot-Watt Dubai has received multiple accolades, including a five-star rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and recognition as the Best University in the Middle East at the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards in 2019.

The new campus was officially opened by King Charles III in November 2023, underscoring the institution's commitment to providing quality education and fostering global engagement in the UAE.