Understanding

Middle East
Education
UAE Country Profile
PwC Education and Skills Practice

Second Edition, 2018/2019

pwc.com/me
The UAE is one of the more
mature education markets
in the region and remains
a draw for investors, providers
and students
This series of infographics
provides a country by country
overview of the education
sector in the Middle East
The UAE is one of the more mature education markets in the region and
remains a draw for investors, providers and students. Its scale and ambition
remain undimmed, but what is the reality on the ground? What do the trends
over time tell us about the education sector by segment, and what are the key
differences between its main markets? In order to better understand the UAE’s
Education sector, it is important to understand the country’s:
• Education Ecosystem
• Structure of the Education System
• Key Players
• Overall Quality of Education
This sets the scene for a deep dive into the enrolment trends and education
outcomes of the UAE’s education systems across its three main education
stages: PreK, K-12 and Higher Education. We explore provision in the public
and private education sectors across the seven Emirates, with a focus
on its two biggest markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
UAE Country Profile | 2
Education Ecosystem
Key influences on private provision in the UAE
Investment
Climate
In the 2017-18 Global Competitiveness
Report, the UAE’s macroeconomic
environment was ranked among the top
30 globally, with the country being the
largest destination for FDI in the region.
The government recently introduced
ownership laws to allow for 100%
foreign investor ownership of companies
outside free zones and 10 year residency
visa options – a move designed to drive
more foreign investment into the country
and attract longer term residents.
More and more private equity firms in
the region are growing their education
portfolios in light of this climate, with
the education sector ranking second
in terms of private equity transactions
among all sectors in the Middle East.
The cost of living in the UAE continues
to increase however, and the degree
to which this and the introduction of
VAT will affect education sector growth
is yet to be determined. The Dubai
government has already stepped in
by freezing K-12 tuition increases for
the 2018/19 academic year to protect
parents, but the move has caused some
existing investors to reevaluate their
investment decisions, at least for the
coming year.
Sources: World Economic Forum, HSBC Expat Explorer, PwC Middle East Economy Watch, S& Investment opportunities
in the GCC education sector, YouGov Omnibus Research 2018
Operating
Environment
The country’s two biggest Emirates,
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have regulatory
bodies in place to streamline the
education investment and operations
processes.
In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Department
of Education and Knowledge (ADEK)
is undergoing changes to its mandate,
shifting its focus away from public
educational institutions – which are to
move under the Ministry of Education’s
responsibility – to focus on private
institutions, in a manner similar to that of
the Knowledge and Human Development
Authority (KHDA) in Dubai.
Schools continue to face challenges
in attracting and retaining the highest
quality teachers and principals
regionally and in the UAE market in
particular. Recent legislation from
the Ministry of Education to introduce
teacher licensing aims to ensure a
minimum standard of quality for all
teachers in the country.
Attractiveness to
Expat Families
The UAE currently ranks 10th in HSBC’s
2017 Expat Explorer Survey, climbing
two spots from its 2016 ranking, making
it the highest ranking country in the
Middle East in terms of expat attitudes
and behaviours – an indicator for the
attractiveness of a country to expats.
However, a recent survey by YouGov
shows that 42% of surveyed UAE
residents think the introduction of VAT
is likely to discourage expats from
coming to the UAE. This is mainly driven
by the belief that the tax will increase
the cost of living, and have a somewhat
uncertain effect on the overall economy.
The UAE is at a point of inflection,
making predictions for the coming
years difficult to forecast. What is clear
is that the country’s potential – and
government willingness – to create
a successful sector make for a strong
starting point in the region. This is
particularly relevant considering that
the relative immaturity of the private
sector in surrounding GCC countries,
in particular in KSA, continues to drive
expats to base their families in the UAE.
UAE Country Profile | 3
Structure of the Education System
Similar regulatory structures have emerged across the largest two Emirates in recent years

Figure 1: Structure of the UAE education system

Age British American Emirati UAE National Regulators Dubai Regulators Abu Dhabi Regulators
System System System

Commission
Post- Post- Post- for Academic
18+
secondary secondary secondary Accreditation
(CAA) Vocational Abu Dhabi
Education KHDA TVET Centre for
and Qualifications Technical &
Training and Awards in Vocational
Awards Dubai (QAD) Education
Council Training
(VETAC) (ACTVET)
17
Secondary

Grades Secondary
16
(12-13)
Grades (9-12)

15
Secondary
National Qualifications Authority (NQA)

14 Grades
(7-12)

13 Secondary

Grades Intermediate
12 (7-11)
Grades (6-8)

11 Knowledge and Abu Dhabi Department

Ministry of Education (MoE) Human Development of Education and
Authority (KHDA) Knowledge (ADEK)
10

Elementary
8 Primary
Grades Elementary
Grades (1-6)
Grades
7 (1-6)
(1-5)

5 Kindergarten Kindergarten

4
Pre-Primary
FS1-FS2
3 Pre-K Pre-K

Sources: UNESCO, UAE Government

UAE Country Profile | 4

Key Players
A small number of large operators and institutions play a major role in the UAE’s delivery
landscape, although the number and variety of providers is increasing

Figure 2: Key Players in the UAE education system

K-12 Higher Ed Local Government
Pre–K
(No. of Schools) (Enrolment No.) Regulators

Abu Dhabi • GEMS Education • GEMS Education (7) • Higher Colleges of

Technology (23,000)
• AD Department of
Education & Knowledge
• Aldar Academies • Aldar Academies (7)
• UAE University (14,000) (ADEK)
• Bright Kids • SABIS (7)
• Abu Dhabi University (7,500) • AD Centre for Technical
• Kids First Group • Bloom (2) & Vocational Education &
• Bloom • Zayed University (5,700) Training (ACTVET)

Dubai • GEMS Education • GEMS Education (32) • University of

Wollongong (3,900)
• Knowledge and
Human Development
• Taaleem • Taaleem (10)
• Zayed University (3,800) Authority (KHDA)
• Innoventures • Innoventures (5)
• Kids First Group • SABIS (2) • Heriot-Watt University
Dubai (3,600)
• Babilou • Bloom (2)
• Middlesex University
• Bloom Dubai (3,100)
• Manipal University (2,500)
• American University in
Dubai (2,300)

Rest of UAE • GEMS Education (10) • University of Sharjah

(13,800)
• Sharjah Education Council
• SABIS (5) • Ajman Educational Zone
• Ajman Uni of Science & • RAK Educational Zone
Technology (6,300)
• Fujairah Educational Zone
• American University of
Sharjah (5,650) • UAQ Educational Zone

Sources: numbers based on secondary sources, Nov 2018

Overall Quality of Education

The quality of the UAE’s primary and higher education systems rank among the top 20 globally

Figure 3: Global Competitiveness Index Rankings (2015, 2016, 2017)

Change from
2017-18 2016-17 2015-16
2016-17 to 2017-18
Overall 17th 16th 17th

Quality of primary education 16th 12th 13th

Quality of higher education 12th 10th 12th

Primary education enrolment, net % 87th 100th 94th

Secondary education enrolment, gross % NA 71st 67th

Tertiary education enrolment, gross % 94th 96th 99th

The UAE continues to be the most competitive country in the Arab World according to the Global
Competitiveness Index, but its ranking dropped back to 2015-16 levels in 2017-18. This was mainly due to the
relative improvement of other countries, highlighting a need to accelerate change. Education was highlighted as
a key driver of competitiveness.

Sources: World Economic Forum

UAE Country Profile | 5
 UAE’s PISA rankings 2012-15 improved for Mathematics but dropped for Reading & Science, while
TIMSS results showed better performance in Mathematics and Science for Dubai compared with
Abu Dhabi 2011-15

Figure 4: PISA Results (2012, 2015)

520

500
PISA Rankings: between 2012 and
2015 the UAE moved up one spot in
480
Mathematics, where it now stands
in 47th place, but fell two places
in Reading, from 46 to 48 and in
460 44
Score

46 Science, from 44 to 46. However, the

46
48 48 UAE Government has an aspiration
440 47
to move into the top 20 by 2021.
420
PISA Scores: both UAE scores and
OECD average scores dropped
400 compared with 2012 levels. The UAE
scores are the highest in the region,
380
but remain below the OECD average.
Mathematics Reading Science Mathematics Reading Science Dubai private schools offering
2012 2015 international curricula performed
better than private and public
schools offering MoE curricula. The
MoE curricula is being modernised to
UAE OECD Average Ranking address this issue.

Figure 5: TIMSS Results (2011, 2015)

2011 2015
UAE 434 UAE 452

Math 4th Grade Dubai 468 Dubai 511

Abu Dhabi 417 Abu Dhabi 419

UAE 456 UAE 465

TIMSS Scores show significant
Math 8th Grade Dubai 478 Dubai 512
improvement for Dubai in
Abu Dhabi 449 Abu Dhabi 442 Mathematics and Science (4th & 8th
Grade) and small improvement
UAE 428 UAE 451 for Abu Dhabi in 4th Grade
Mathematics & Science, with drops
Science 4th Grade Dubai 461 Dubai 518 in 8th Grade Mathematics & Science
performance.
Abu Dhabi 411 Abu Dhabi 415

UAE 465 UAE 477

Science 8th Grade Dubai 485 Dubai 525

Abu Dhabi 461 Abu Dhabi 454

Sources: OECD, Ministry of Education, International Monetary Fund, IEA TIMSS

UAE Country Profile | 6

 Key Education Trends: Pre-K
Pre-K enrolment is expected to increase in Dubai & Abu Dhabi, with the latter expected to grow
at a faster rate

Figure 6: Pre-K Enrolment Estimates (2013-2021)

Population 0-4
(‘000)** 433.9 429.0 423.6 417.5 411.3 405.7 400.6 395.5 384.4

30,000

Whilst Dubai has reported having

25,000
more than 200 nurseries, (around
50 more than Abu Dhabi reported),
Enrolment

nursery enrolment in Abu Dhabi

20,000 has seen faster growth, which, if it
continues, will result in an expected
2016-2021 CAGR of 11.5%
15,000
compared with 9% in Dubai. Overall
we expect growth to continue as
10,000 the emphasis on the importance of
early childhood education increases,
alongside a move towards higher
5,000
female participation rates in the
workforce.
0
OECD average participation rates of
2013 2014 2015* 2016E 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E 0-2 year olds are estimated at 33%,
Dubai Enrolment Abu Dhabi Enrolment
compared to estimated participation
rates of 7% in Abu Dhabi and 10%
*: Estimated figure for Abu Dhabi and actual data for Dubai in Dubai.
**: Population estimates include half the 4 year old population to account for academic year considerations
Sources: UN, Dubai Statistics Center (DSC), Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 7

 Key Education Trends: K-12
Private education enrolment is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~4%, almost 4 times higher than the
rate of public education enrolment growth

Figure 7: K-12 Enrolment Estimates (2013-2021)

Population 4-18* (‘000) 1,045 1,057 1,068 1,131 1,174 1,204 1,224 1,235 1,281
1,400 800

1,200 700

600
1,000
500
Enrolment (‘000)

800

No. of Schools
400
600
300
400 72% 71% 73% 73% 74% 75% 75% 76% 76% 200

200 28% 29% 27% 27% 26% 25% 25% 24% 24% 100

0 0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E

No. of Students – Public No. of Students – Private No. of Schools – Public No. of Schools – Private

More than 150,000 new students will enroll between 2016 and 2021 in private K-12 if enrolment growth
continues at the current rate – although some of this will be absorbed by capacity in existing school with low
utilization rates, particularly those most recently opened. (refer to Figure 9 for a breakdown of school growth in
Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
This growth is in line with UN projections, which predict that the overall population will continue to grow until
2021. The K-12 age group (4-18) shows the highest growth during the 2013-2016 period (CAGR 2.7%), and is
likely to grow at a slightly slower rate for 2017-2021 (CAGR 2.2%). In 2016, the UAE had 27% of its students in
public schools, and it spent around $22,000 (80,000 AED) per student, more than double the OECD average of
$9,000 (33,000 AED).

* Population estimates include half the 4 year old population and half the 18 year old population to account for academic year considerations
Sources: UN, Ministry of Education, International Monetary Fund, PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 8

 By Emirate: K-12 private sector enrolment grew by more than 95,000 between 2013 and 2016 across
all seven Emirates, with almost 60% of that growth coming from Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Figure 8: K-12 Enrolment by Emirate (2013, 2016)

400
350
Enrolment (‘000)

300
65%
250 63%
200 90%
89% 81%
150 79%
50 41% 45%
38% 41%
71% 75% 52%
39%
0
2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17 2013/14 2016/17

Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Ajman Umm Al Quwain Al Fujairah Ras Al Khaimah
(includes Al-Ain
and Al Garbia)
Emirates

Public Private

Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Ministry of Education, Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD)

By Main Markets: Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been growing at similar rates when it comes to K-12
private sector enrolment (~CAGR 4%)

Figure 9: Private K-12 Enrolment Estimates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (2013-2021)

350 250

300
200
While enrolment growth rates
250
tend to be similar between the
Enrolment (‘000)

No. of Schools

150 two Emirates (~CAGR 4%) 2013-

200
2016, the number of schools has
grown more quickly in Dubai than
150
100 Abu Dhabi, possibly due to Abu
100
Dhabi having started off with a
higher number of schools. Abu
50
50
Dhabi may be at the point of
needing to introduce schools at a
0 0 faster rate to increase capacity if
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017* 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E enrolment growth continues.
Abu-Dhabi Enrollment Dubai Enrollment Abu-Dhabi Schools Dubai Schools

* Estimated figure for Abu Dhabi and actual data for Dubai
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Statistics Center (DSC), Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 9

 By Curriculum: UK, Indian and US curriculum popularity continues to drive growth in enrolment,
with UK preference being significantly higher in Dubai, compared with a mix of preferences
in Abu Dhabi

Figure 10: Private K-12 Enrolment Estimates by Curriculum in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (2013-2021)

In Dubai, if UK school enrolment continues to increase, it will represent over a third of the market by 2021.
This will translate into 26,000 more enrolments by 2021, representing growth over 6 times higher than any
other school curriculum type. In Abu Dhabi, the case is similar for US curriculum schools, where, if enrolment
continues to increase, it will represent almost a third of the market in 2021, with more than 21,000 additional
enrolments. The drop in MoE curriculum popularity could reflect a preference among parents for more
international curricula.

120,000 Dubai Abu Dhabi

100,000

80,000
Enrolment

60,000

40,000

20,000

0
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E

UK Indian US MoE IB US UK Indian MoE SABIS Other**

* Other includes IB, among other less common curricula (French, Canadian, etc.)
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 10

By Quality: Overall school quality in Dubai improved over the past 5 years, with schools rated good
and higher growing from 49% of total schools to 66%

Figure 11: Private School Ratings in Dubai (2013-2017)

Overall utilization has dropped across curriculum types meaning that at least some of the projected additional
enrolment will be provided for in existing schools. The new capacity in IB in particular has not been filled yet,
which could be explained by the high tuition fees of these schools. Despite higher average fees, parents remain
willing to send their children to “Outstanding” and “Very Good” schools. On the other hand, the utilization of
‘Good‘ and 'Acceptable' schools has dropped significantly. The ‘Weak' rated schools are now seeing higher
utilization, perhaps explained by the closure of the weakest and emptiest schools and the fact that these schools
tend to cater to lower income families.

50%
46.0%
43.3% 44.0%
41.0% 41.8% 41.0%
40% 38.5% 37.2%
Share of Private Schools

30.8% 30.7%
30%
24.7%

20% 19.6% 18.9%

10% 8.6% 9.9%

5.0% 6.3%
4.3% 4.7%
3.6%

0%
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

School Ratings: Outstanding + Very Good Good Acceptable Weak

Figure 12: Private School Utilization Rates by Curriculum in Dubai (2014, 2017)

Utilization rates
UK Indian US MoE IB Overall
by curriculum*

2014 87.5% 88.6% 86.1% 84.2% 93.3% 88%

2017 82% 82% 79% 78% 78% 80%

Average Fees AED** 42,000 14,000 33,000 7,000 69,000 –

Figure 13: Private School Utilization Rates by Rating in Dubai (2014, 2017)

Utilization rates
Outstanding Very Good Good Acceptable Weak
by rating*

2014 98.5% – 95.3% 90.9% 79.5%

2017 93% 91% 81% 81% 85%

Average Fees AED** 60,000 50,000 32,000 18,000 7,000

* Utilization is calculated by dividing current school enrolment by current school capacity

** Fees have been rounded to the nearest thousand
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)

UAE Country Profile | 11

 By Market Size: There is a shortage of quality schools in the AED 30,000-50,000 fee range

Dubai’s average fees per student is around 26,000 AED, with the majority of schools charging fees below
30,000 AED, particularly where schools tend be bigger and have ratings of “Good” or lower. The majority of
“Very Good” and “Outstanding” Schools charge average fees over 40,000 AED. There is a market gap for
schools in the 30,000-50,000 AED range, specifically for high quality schools.

Figure 14: Private School Fee Distribution by Size, Curriculum and Rating in Dubai (2017)

12,000

10,000
UK Outstanding

8,000
School Size (Enrolment))

Indian Very Good

US Good
6,000
MoE Acceptable

4,000 IB Weak

2,000

0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000 100000

Average Fees (AED)

Figure 15: Private School Market Size Estimates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (2013-2021)**

12

10
Billions (AED)

8 The Dubai and Abu Dhabi

markets are expected to
6 grow at CAGR rates of
7-8%, with Dubai growing
4
at a slightly higher rate to a
2 market value almost 4 billion
AED higher than that of Abu
0 Dhabi in 2021.
2013 2014* 2015* 2016* 2017* 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E

Dubai Abu Dhabi

* Estimated figure for Abu Dhabi and actual data for Dubai
**Abu Dhabi and Dubai K-12 private school market size based on tuition fee (AED) and enrolment
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 12

Key Education Trends: Higher Education
The environment is uncertain, but Higher Education enrolment has the potential to grow by around
5,500 students by 2021

Higher education enrolment grew between 2013 and 2015 but fell in 2016, due to a drop in private enrolment
estimated at -2.5%. If enrolment continues to drop at the same pace, the market will lose more than 10,000
students in private HE by 2021, in what could be called a pessimistic scenario.
On the other hand, the 18-24 population is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 2% (2017-2021), inbound
student numbers exceeded 70,000 in 2016, and recent reforms have extended student visas from 1 year to 5
years and up to 10 years for “exceptional” students. These factors, in addition to the arrival of highly ranked
universities such as University of Birmingham, are likely to drive recovery in a “supply driven” market, closing
some of the gaps resulting from the small range of programs currently offered. An optimistic scenario could see
private enrolment continuing to grow linearly at a CAGR of 3.5%, adding more than 21,000 students by 2021.
The reality may be somewhere between these scenarios, where some recovery is expected, but at a growth rate
lower than that seen over the past few years. We estimate both public and private enrolment will grow at a CAGR
of around 0.7%, resulting in more than 5,500 extra enrolments by 2021.

Figure 16: Higher Education Enrolment Estimates (2013-2021)

140,000

120,000
Enrolment

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

2013 2014* 2015 2016 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E

Public Private PwC Estimate Pessimistic Scenario Optimistic Scenario

*2014 is an estimate
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), UN, UNESCO, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), PwC Analysis

UAE Country Profile | 13

By Emirate: Dubai and Abu Dhabi dominate with the largest number of higher education students
In Dubai private provision makes up a much larger proportion of seats while in Abu Dhabi the split is even, likely driven both by
the fact that ~70% of Abu Dhabi students are Emiratis, compared with ~35% in Dubai. Equally important for understanding the
difference is the impact of Dubai’s academic free zones, which attract a large number of private universities and international
branch campuses to the Emirate, making private higher education a more attractive option for students seeking quality
international education.

Figure 17: Higher Education Enrolment Estimates by Emirate and by Sector (2016)

Ajman
Private 10,198 (4)
Public 0
2016-17 Ras Al Khaimah
Private 9,325 (4)
Umm Al Quwain Public 0 Private 2,143 (2)
2013-14 Private 423 (1) Public 2,583 (1)
() Public 0
Private 2,418 (3)
Number of Private 111 (1) Dubai Public 2,033 (1)
Universities Public 0
Private 47,871 (54)
Public 8,996 (2)
Al Fujairah
Private 43,175 (54)
Public 9,411 (3) Private 1,703 (2)
Public 2,044 (1)
Private 1,612 (2)
Public 2,234 (1)

Abu Dhabi Sharjah

Private 28,586 (29) Private 21,556 (7)
Public 28,516 (3) Public 4,498 (1)

Private 23,153 (31) Private 19,794 (6)

Public 28,180 (6) Public 3,527 (1)

Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Statistics Center (DSC), Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA)

By Main Markets: The biggest drop in private higher education enrolment in the UAE in 2016 came
from Dubai’s non free zone universities

Enrolment in KHDA HEIs continued to grow, with the drop in 2016 coming from private HEIs outside of free
zones in Dubai. Abu Dhabi’s growth slowed in 2016 but did not see a drop in enrolment, continuing a trend of
slower yet steady increase over the past 4 years.

Figure 18: Higher Education Enrolment Estimates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (2013-2016)

70,000
59,801 60,310
56,867 56,361 57,102
60,000 53,848
52,586 51,333 CAGR 2013-2016 Public
50,000 Dubai -1.5% | AD: 0.4%
20,914 25,627 27,739 28,972 23,153 25,757 28,360 28,586
40,000 CAGR 2013-2016 Private
Dubai: -5.3% | AD: 7.3%
30,000

20,000
CAGR 2013-2016 Private FZ
22,261 24,816 23,266 18,899 28,180 28,091 28,001 28,516
Dubai: 11.5%
10,000
9,411 9,358 9,305 8,996
0
2013 2014* 2015 2016 2013 2014* 2015 2016

Dubai Abu Dhabi

Public Private Private FZ

*2014 is an estimate
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA) UAE Country Profile | 14
By Specialization: There is little annual variation in graduating students’ specializations, despite
changing labor market needs, with Business and Engineering continuing to be the top choices in
both public and private universities

Public universities tend to have more diversity among their graduating students’ specializations than private
HEIs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where 75% of all graduating students fall under 2 specializations: Business and
Engineering in Dubai and Business and Education in Abu Dhabi. Private universities are also driven to offer more
profitable programs, and often stay away from programs that either attract smaller enrolment numbers or have
higher infrastructure and running costs. Examples include Medicine, Arts, Sports, History, Archaeology etc.
The UAE has a relatively low number of postgraduate students compared with mature markets and the number of
undergraduate students in the country. To enhance its global standing in education, more is required to increase
the number and attractiveness of postgraduate courses available as well as the availability of research funding.

Figure 19: Higher Education Graduates by Specialization in UAE Public Institutions (2015)

13% 
7%

5%  2015-16 Business & Economics

4% 2013-14 Engineering

33%  Information Technology

45%
Human & Social Sciences
6% 
Communication & Media Sciences
5%
UAE Public Education
Education
Total: 6,509 Environment & Health Sciences
8% 
5% Other
Other includes IT, Medical Sciences,
Arts & Design, Foreign languages,
Sciences, Food and Agriculture along
9%  with undeclared and foundation year.
5% 13% 
15%
12% 
14%

Figure 20: Higher Education Graduates by Specialization in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Private Institutions (2015)

10%  9%  2%
11% 15% 2%

7% 
6% 63%  13% 
67% 14%
6% 
Dubai Private Abu Dhabi Private
5% Total: 5 ,943 Total: 2,806
38%
38%

13% 
11% 38%
31%

2015-16
2013-14

Business 2015-16 Business & Economics

2013-14 Education
Engineering Other includes Architecture and
Construction, Education, Health Other includes
Information Technology Engineering & Technology
and Medicine, Humanities, Law, Humanities,
Media & design Natural & Physical Sciences, Other Social Sciences Arts & Religion, Medical
Tourism and Hospitality along with & Health Sciences,
Other undeclared and foundation year Other Natural Sciences

Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD)

UAE Country Profile | 15

 UAE leadership recognizes the need to move away from business and finance courses and focus more on
STEAM related subjects in preparation for a job market where technological disruption is underway and a
push to reduce the current dependency on government employment will increase the need for private sector
participation. Priority sectors identified as needed for the UAE’s future job market include:
• Energy and Petrochemicals
• Travel, Tourism and Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• Trade and Logistics
• Financial Services
• Technology, Media and Communications
• Construction*
The UAE’s national vision and major projects like the Expo 2020 are likely to influence a transition towards
specializations like Information Technology, the Sciences, Communication, Media and Design, alongside a
continued focus on engineering. However, to what extent and speed both the private universities and the
student population will respond is yet to be determined. Private universities are unlikely to be able to invest in
new programs with low initial student numbers, a gap that public universities might be expected to fill. Student
uptake of these programs may need a combination of a necessary shift in mindset, alongside a rapid shift in the
job market to supply new jobs that will encourage students to venture towards different specializations.

*The composition of the construction labor force is skewed towards lower skilled labor, and is dependent on the growth of other sectors, so is not considered a priority field for
student studies.
Sources: Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, British Council Future
Skills Report

UAE Country Profile | 16

Contact us
PwC works nationally and internationally in the education sector with governments, agencies and private sector organizations.
If you want to talk to our Middle East team of dedicated specialists who focus exclusively on the education sector, please get
in touch.

Sally Jeffery Roland Hancock Sara Marie

Partner Senior Director Manager
E: sally.jeffery@pwc.com E: roland.hancock@pwc.com E: sara.marie@pwc.com

UAE Country Profile | 17

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. PwC is a network of firms in 158 countries with
over 250,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell
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Established in the Middle East for 40 years, PwC has firms in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman,
the Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with around 4,000 people.(www.pwc.com/me).
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