Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City record 24 per cent growth in 2012

Dubai, April 14, 2013 (WAM) - The Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) this week announced an overall growth of 24 per cent as a further 80 HR and education institutes signed up to the business parks throughout 2012, up from 61 new partners in 2011, bringing the total to 564 across both business parks. Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) saw the introduction of a number of new educational providers and consultants, including executive search firms Carmichael Fisher MEA and Antal International , business etiquette school Protocol School of Washington and the world's largest HR association, SHRM MEA. Amongst the Education Cluster's academic institutions, University of Wollongong Dubai and Middlesex University significantly increased their presence in Dubai, owing to increased student numbers and the high quality of services and support provided by the Education Cluster. DKV and DIAC's growth rates are a testament to the fact that the parks continue to attract leading organisations as they further cement their positions as centres of excellence for HR and higher education. The news of DIAC and DKV's success follows a recent Workforce Planning Study[1], carried out by Dubai International Academic City with Deloitte, which revealed that the UAE is seen as the fourth most attractive education destination in the world for students seeking to pursue their studies abroad, and the most attractive education destination among emerging market economies - beating the likes of China, Singapore and Australia. The report also put the spotlight on the fact that there are 64 skills in high demand across a range of sectors in the region including the skills required for entry-level tourism and senior-level telecoms roles. DKV and DIAC business partners enjoy special privileges such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, 100 per cent tax-free operations, 100 per cent repatriation of profits and effortless visa and licensing issuance procedures. In addition, DKV and DIAC provide a dedicated Partner Development Team to ensure the ongoing visibility and growth of partners through ongoing initiatives throughout the year. – Emirates News Agency, WAM