Dubai Knowledge Village, a member of Tecom Investments, has launched Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the world’s only free zone dedicated to international higher education.

Located in Dubai Academic City, DIAC will serve as the regional base for premier international higher education institutions.
Dr Ayoub Kazim, executive director, Dubai Knowledge Village and DIAC, said: “Dubai is already experiencing an exponential growth in the higher education sector. Dubai International Academic City has been created in response to the tremendous growth that Dubai Knowledge Village has witnessed over the past four years, attracting educational institutions from around the world.
Spread across an area of 25 million sq ft, DIAC is the first dedicated tertiary cluster development. Out of this, 8 million sq  ft will be dedicated to the international higher education zone, while 3 million sq ft will be allocated for research and development centres. A sports facility, student union, student and faculty accommodation will take up another 3 million sq ft.
Nearly 20 international institutes of higher learning from Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Belgium, UK and Ireland have already set up base at DIAC, catering to more than 8,500 students. These include the University of Wollongong in Dubai, from Australia; Middlesex University Dubai Campus from the UK and S P Jain Centre of Management Dubai, from India.
DIAC will offer a range of facilities to cater to the needs of the students and faculty. It will provide on-campus accommodation with all the modern conveniences including broadband internet connection.
In addition, DIAC will offer students access to a modern sports centre complete with a gym, basketball and volleyball courts and a soccer pitch. Facilities for track and field athletics will also be provided.
The accommodation, sports centre and student union facilities will be operational by 2009.