A Single Card Connects Dubai’s Students to the World

Dubai's new student card merges campus identity, public transport and a global network of 150,000 benefits, reshaping how students navigate the emirate and beyond.

The rhythms of student life in Dubai are about to become considerably more seamless. The Roads and Transport Authority, working with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park and the International Student Identity Card Association, has created a card that moves beyond the traditional student identity document to become something altogether more useful: a single gateway to campus access, sustainable transport, and a world of opportunity.

The New Dubai Student Card integrates three essential functions into one. It serves as official student identification at participating educational institutions, activates nol public transport functionality with discounts of up to 50 percent, and provides internationally recognised proof of student status through ISIC. The card grants access to more than 150,000 benefits across over 130 countries, opening doors to discounts on travel, accommodation, dining, entertainment, shopping and education.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Corporate Technology Services Sector, describes the initiative as one that simplifies student mobility across Dubai while encouraging greater use of public transport. The ambition is to create a more connected and sustainable urban mobility ecosystem, one in which the friction of moving between educational institutions, transport networks and essential services simply dissolves.

The card aligns with Dubai’s broader educational vision. Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, positions it within the Education 33 Strategy, emphasising how it places the learner at the heart of the student experience by bringing together education, mobility, services and opportunities. For Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, the initiative reflects a commitment to strengthening Dubai’s standing as a global higher education hub.

The card’s international dimension speaks to the reality of modern student life. Matthew East, CEO of GTS ALIVE Group at ISIC, observes that today’s students inhabit a world extending far beyond their campus, and their student identity should reflect that expansive reality. By connecting students with globally recognised identification and access to benefits and experiences both in Dubai and worldwide, the card acknowledges the borderless nature of contemporary education and opportunity.

Educational institutions have been invited to apply for participation through http://www.dubaistudentcard.ae, with the initiative rolling out in phases. This phased approach allows for careful integration and refinement as institutions join the network.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This development strengthens the broader UAE education ecosystem, particularly in reinforcing Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s position as global destinations for higher education and talent. By creating a framework in which student mobility, transport and access to opportunity become seamlessly integrated, the initiative sets a standard for how emirates can support their student populations. The card’s international reach, connecting students to 150,000 benefits across 130 countries, extends the influence and appeal of Emirati education beyond national borders.

The project demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative governance across key institutions. KHDA, TECOM Group, RTA and ISIC have created something that serves multiple objectives simultaneously: improving campus operations, encouraging public transport usage, and enhancing the student experience. As Dubai’s free zones advance workforce development through partnerships with students, initiatives like this card create the infrastructure to support such talent development across both emirates.

Source: WAM