History of Education in the UAE

History of Education in the UAE

• Education in the UAE began with Kutab or Mutawa' schools, teaching Arabic and Quran
• Semi-structured schools (1903-1953) taught Arabic, Quran, and math
• Structured education (1953-1971) introduced modern education, with support from Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, and Bahrain
• Modern education (1971-present) has seen significant growth and development

Education System in the UAE

• The education system is divided into four tiers: Kindergarten (KG 1 and KG 2), Primary School (Grades 1-6), Preparatory Stage (Grades 7-9), and Secondary School (Grades 9-12)
• Schools can be either public or private

Private Schools in the K-12 System

• Enrollment in private sector schools is high, with around 70% of students enrolled in private schools in 2015
• Private school enrollments have grown steadily over the years, with an annual growth rate of 7%

Student and Teacher Statistics

• In 2019/2020, there were approximately 1,099,331 students and 72,022 teachers in the UAE
• Private schools accounted for around 74% of students and 71% of teachers

Education Spending

• Despite fiscal pressures, education spending in the UAE is high, with around 1.6% of GDP spent on education
• Actual spending per public-sector student is above the OECD average
• Education spending has increased in recent years, with around 20.5% of the federal government's budget dedicated to education

Higher Education in the UAE

• The number of international degree-seeking students in the UAE has increased significantly, with around 77,463 students in 2016
• The UAE has a high outbound student mobility ratio, with around 7.1% of Emirati nationals studying abroad
• Popular destinations for Emirati students include the UK, US, India, Australia, Oman, and Germany

Public and Private Higher Education Institutions

• There are three federal public higher education institutions: UAE University, Zayed University, and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT)
• Private higher education institutions are mainly for-profit, with around 70% located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
• The majority of students at private institutions are expatriates and international students

Transnational Education in the UAE

• The UAE is a hub for transnational education, with around 39 institutions and 24 foreign branch campuses in Dubai alone
• International universities operating in the UAE include the University of Wollongong, New York Institute of Technology, and Heriot-Watt University

International University Rankings

• Emirati universities are well-represented in international university rankings, with Khalifa University ranked second in the Arab world
• Other top-ranked Emirati institutions include UAE University, American University of Sharjah, and the University of Sharjah