Dubai – Mubasher: The University of Birmingham has inked an agreement to expand in the UAE via building the second phase of its campus in Dubai.

Located within the Dubai International Academic City, the University of Birmingham's new facilities will open in September 2021.

“This is a truly exciting milestone for the University of Birmingham. From the outset, council members have wholeheartedly supported this visionary project to build a campus in Dubai,” Ed Smith CBE, University of Birmingham pro-chancellor and chair of council, said.

The university will provide an academic home for up to 2,900 students, with expectations to extend the development as the University of Birmingham Dubai grows.

The new building, designed by Hopkins Architects, will be located opposite the city’s first purpose-built student housing community.

Facilities will include a 300-seat lecture theatre, an auditorium, and three laboratories accommodating up to 200 students, along with seminar and tutorial rooms.

“As a global university with a civic outlook, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the UAE as it drives economic progress through knowledge and innovation, whilst contributing to the development of a growing international education hub in Dubai,” CBE added.

It is worth noting that the University of Birmingham Dubai offers programmes including business, economics, computer science, mechanical engineering, and teacher training degrees.

It will launch new programmes such as accounting, banking and finance, international commercial law, and teacher training in Arabic and special educational needs for 2019/2020.

“The establishment of the University of Birmingham at DIAC represents an important step towards a long-term relationship that will enhance educational experiences for local and transnational students alike,” Mohammad Abdullah, managing director of Dubai International Academic City, commented.