Heriot-Watt Dubai adds AED 520mn to nation’s economy during 2015

RITIKA SHARMA / Emirates Business

Heriot-Watt has revealed that the university contributed a Gross Value Added (GVA) total of AED 520 million to the UAE economy in 2015, AED460.2 million of which was generated in Dubai. The figures were revealed in the newly published Economic Impact of Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus report.
Talking about the economic contributions, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Richard A. Williams revealed that the Dubai Campus’ contribution to Dubai’s economy grew by 300 percent in the years from 2011 to 2015.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus contributed AED 330.5 million GVA to Dubai’s economy in 2011, which increased to AED 1.02 billion in 2015.
“We are happy to let the numbers speak for themselves. At Heriot-Watt University Dubai it gives us a great source of pride to know that our contribution to this great nation extends beyond that of an economic one; we produce apt, British qualified university graduates who are ready to enter the UAE workforce in some of the most in demand careers in the country,” Prof. Ammar Kaka told Emirates Business.
Professor Williams said, “As the first overseas university in Dubai’s International Academic City, Heriot-Watt has played a hugely important role in the development of the Dubai higher education sector, establishing a successful model of transnational education which others have adopted, as well as supporting Dubai’s aim of economic growth underpinned by diversified economic activity.”
Additionally, the Dubai Campus supported 1,215 jobs in the UAE out of which 1,065 jobs were created in Dubai. Every job at the campus supports a further 8 jobs in the wider UAE community. The report presents the findings of a study undertaken
by BiGGAR Economics in 2016 into the economic impact of Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus.
The university’s student expenditure is estimated to have contributed AED 244.6 million GVA, leading to 581 jobs in UAE. University-linked tourism – friends, family, attendees to events at the Dubai Campus and staff travelling – also contributed towards economic growth with an estimated AED 35.0 million GVA generated and 116 jobs created in the UAE.
Professor Williams added, “Since it was launched in 2005 our Dubai campus has been a tremendous success for our students and as part of the University’s long-term international strategy, it is heartening to have this confirmation that it also provides large scale and long-term benefits to the economy and community which hosts it.” Heriot-Watt University Dubai is known for supporting the development of innovation and skills based growth.