Dubai-UAE: Sunday, 17 February 2019: The University of Birmingham signed an agreement to build the second phase of its Dubai campus in the presence of the His Excellency Dr Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills.

Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham, and Malek Al Malek, CEO of TECOM Group, signed the agreement that will see a new purpose-built campus established at DIAC.

Also present at the ceremony to formalise the agreement at DIAC were His Excellency Dr Belhoul Al Falasi joined His Excellency Andrew Jackson, Her Majesty's Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and senior leaders from the University of Birmingham, Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and TECOM Group.

The new facilities will open in September 2021 and provide an academic home for up to 2,900 students, with the opportunity to extend the development as the University of Birmingham Dubai grows.

• Designed by Hopkins Architects, the iconic buildings will be located opposite the city's first purpose-built student housing community, overlooking parkland that reflects the green heart of the University's UK campus. 
• The 50,000 sq m campus has been designed to encourage collaboration across all academic disciplines, with flexible learning spaces and formal teaching spaces ensuring teaching and research work in tandem to benefit students.
• A student 'hub' will locate student services in one place. Designed to enhance the sustainability of the campus, sheltered courtyards and social spaces will provide a relaxing environment in keeping with the local climate.
• The new campus will feature a 300-seat lecture theatre, a similarly sized auditorium and three laboratories accommodating 200 students, along with seminar and tutorial rooms.

Birmingham was the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in this rapidly developing international education hub. It offers degrees taught, examined and accredited to the same high standards as those delivered on its UK campus.

Dr Ed Smith CBE, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Birmingham, said: "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. I would like to thank the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), TECOM Group, DIAC and all our partners in the region for their generous support in helping us reach this landmark day."

Professor Sir David Eastwood added: "We welcomed our first students to the University of Birmingham Dubai in September and, just five months later, we have begun the next exciting stage of our contribution to UAE society.

"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.

"This innovative and iconic facility has been designed to echo our beautiful and historic Edgbaston campus (in the UK) whilst providing a flexible, modern setting for our students in Dubai to obtain maximum benefit from our teaching and research expertise."

The University of Birmingham Dubai already offers programmes including Business, Economics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and teacher training degrees. It is set to launch new study programmes for 2019/20 in areas such as Accounting, Banking and Finance, International Commercial Law and teacher training in Arabic and Special Educational Needs.

Malek Al Malek, CEO of TECOM Group, said: "A first-rate education system is one of the pillars of the UAE Vision 2021. This national roadmap will contribute to establishing the UAE as a prime destination for world-class education.

"Dubai has consolidated its status as a leading educational hub, buoyed by its reputation as a multicultural cosmopolitan city, due to recent regulatory reforms that have increased the ease of obtaining student visas. Higher educational institutions such as the University of Birmingham play a pivotal role in developing and nurturing talented individuals, who in turn, support the UAE's economic transformation."

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Park, said: "We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with the University of Birmingham. The establishment of the University of Birmingham at DIAC represents an important step towards a long-term relationship that will enhance the educational experiences of local and transnational students alike.

"The bespoke campus, set for completion in 2021, is a testament to the innovative ecosystem that is needed to meet the demands of the rapidly changing global educational landscape. As our vibrant community continues to expand, we are committed to supporting our academic partners and collaborating with top academic institutions in order to fulfil global demand for quality international higher education."

Following the signing ceremony, His Excellency Dr Belhoul Al Falasi toured the current University of Birmingham Dubai building at DIAC, and met with several experts from the University, who outlined a range of research areas of particular interest to the UAE, including:

• Quantum technology sensors for space;
• Clean energy – sustainable cooling;
• Education – special needs + Arabic teaching;
• Tolerance, character and virtue;
• Artificial intelligence and transport systems; and
• Cardiovascular disease genomics for the Emirati population.