UAE Educational Outlook Report 2019 – New Business Opportunities
Published on January 30th, 2019.
The educational sector for the GCC continues to grow and develop due to an increased preference for private schooling. Regional governments continue to invest and allocate a good portion of their budget to the educational and training sector. Development of this sector remains a priority for governments throughout the GCC. Regional governments realize the importance of investing in skills, training and development to support employment opportunities and boost overall competitiveness.
The United Arab Emirates educational and training sector is on the rise, in particular Dubai. The total number of students in universities and schools is forecast to grow 4.1% this year. Education and training is one of the fastest growing industries in the GCC region. The GCC education sector is projected to reach 15 million in 2020. GCC Education Industry Report, Alpen Capital.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT FIGURES
639 public schools in the UAE
580 private schools located throughout the 7 Emirates
23,146 teachers within the public sector
46,870 employed teachers in the private sector
287,725 students currently attending public schools
793,295 student attending or receiving private education
Ministry of Government latest figures reveal the UAE has a total of 580 private schools. Private schools constitute around 60% of the country’s schools and deliver education to about 500,000 students.
“The wealth of any developed nation is its own educated citizens: progress of people and nations is measured by their level of education and its extent of dissemination among them.” The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
GCC EDUCATION INDUSTRY FACTS
UAE has the highest number of international schools in the world
UAE and Qatar educational sector is expected to grow faster than any other GCC countries
Steady growth in the GCC’s education sector covering pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary and vocational segments across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar
The number of students in the UAE is predicted rise to around 1.4 million by 2020.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EDUCATION & TRAINING SECTOR
The UAE and Qatar remain as top positioning countries for attracting private investors to the educational sector. International schools remain popular in the GCC due to the large presence of expatriates, along with the desire of citizens wanting to send their children to establishments offering good quality education.
Educational training and development programs are becoming a necessity for corporate organisations to differ and stand out from its competitors. Training expert Andrea Parry from Select Training comments “Developing and investing in employees can take your business beyond. In 2018, we witnessed an increase in organizations investing in employee training courses such as: improving customer services, advancing sales and negotiation”. Demand for training and development programmes along with UK and Australian recognised certifications are still highly sought after in the region. The businesses opportunities within the education and training sector are endless.
KNOWLEDGE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (KHDA) STATISTICS
British curriculum is the most commonly taught in UAE schools
7% of Dubai’s GDP is generated by private school sector revenue
6% student enrollment growth in the private sector
The UAE offers a favorable investment climate by offering land for free or at attractive lease terms and financial support in the form of grants, student vouchers, and subsidies.
The quality of education is reflected in the existence of renowned schools and colleges in the country, including names: GEMS, SABIS, London Business School, Wollongong University, Murdoch University, Heriot-Watt University and New York University of Technology etc.
GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES
UAE Ministry of Education continues to develop its ten-year strategy (2010-2020) targeted at improving student outcomes and school life, providing access to affordable and high-quality education. Regional governments continue to invest and allocate a good portion of their budget to the educational and training sector. There are many lucrative opportunities for training organizations and educational institutions to expand to this region.
