PRIVATELY PROSPERING
The education sector in Dubai is entering a period of rapid expansion, growing by 10% YoY, with new schools outpacing population growth. In 2015 alone, 11 new schools opened, including eight British, two Indian, and one Canadian school. There are already 173 private schools in Dubai, and by 2020, 80 new private schools are expected to have opened across the Emirate.
The education sector in Dubai is entering a period of rapid expansion, growing by 10% YoY, with new schools outpacing population growth. In 2015 alone, 11 new schools opened, including eight British, two Indian, and one Canadian school. There are already 173 private schools in Dubai, and by 2020, 80 new private schools are expected to have opened across the Emirate. Quality has ostensibly grown with quantity—the percentage of schools rated “good or outstanding" has risen from 33% in 2011 to 51% in 2015. The new schools in 2015 alone have created 23,000 additional places, a 10% rise YoY. In 2017, 21 new schools are scheduled to open, twice the number for the previous two years combined.
Back in 2012 Dubai launched a complete overhaul of its education strategy, introducing new teaching techniques, investing in new schools and universities, and better tailoring the curriculum to suit the economy's needs. A big focus was made on the needs of Emirati children. But above all, the overhaul sought to break the strong link with central government and open up the sector to private competition and investors. Almost five years on, the numbers seem impressive: 173 private schools offering 17 curricula to pupils of 183 nationalities; 265,299 children enrolled at private schools; 25,125 students at 26 universities and higher education institutions across Dubai. And more than 90% of Dubai's children attend private schools.
The reason private schools dominate in these figures is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), an organization that is central to the development of education in the Emirate, and has a specific remit to put private schooling at the forefront of the sector. KHDA's program has been so successful that the organization is today all but synonymous with private education in Dubai. In Dubai, nine out of every 10 children attend private schools. The KHDA works with government partners and private investors to create an education system that is of high quality, and popular. The Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating schools and universities in the Emirate, yet does not play a role in setting the curriculum or recruiting staff. As a result, Dubai's education sector is one of the most liberally-administrated in the country. In 2015, a report by the World Bank praised the sector as having “put into place a system that is uniquely adapted to the private education landscape" in Dubai. As of 2016, there are 173 private schools in Dubai. Of total pupils in private education, 42% are in primary education, 25% in secondary education, 15% in tertiary, and 18% in kindergarten. British and Indian pupils alone account for 64% of all enrolment in private education. Education for all Emirati children is provided free of charge and is compulsory until the age of 16.
In December 2015, Dubai's Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, approved a budget of AED16.9 billion, which includes health. This is up from AED14.3 billion in 2014 and is focused, first and foremost, on public education facilities for Emirati children. More than half of Emirati students currently attend private schools. Since 2006, the proportion of Emirati students in private schools has grown from 34% to 56%. The trend toward private school preference has stabilized in the last four years, during which the proportion of Emirati students in private schools has consistently been between 56% and 57% (KHDA, 2014). The proportion of Emirate students in private education is highest at kindergarten level, probably due to a relative lack of institutions in the public sector for early years education. Overall, 57% of Emirates enrolled at private schools are boys. A high number of Emirate boys go on to leave the public school system for schools run by the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT).
Dubai International Academic City
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) was first developed in 2006 and today occupies an impressive 12 million sqm. More than 12,000 students study at 13 higher education institutes across the DIAC, which was founded as an offshoot of Knowledge Village, from where schools, colleges, and universities could relocate. Today DIAC is home to some leading universities, including the American University in Dubai, the British University in Dubai, Herriot-Watt University, Azad University, and the University of Waterloo.
Franchising and foreign schools
Many investors and entrepreneurs looking to open schools in Dubai have found franchising to be a relatively low-cost and effective option. Institutions such as the Maple Leaf Nursery, a Canadian brand of kindergarten, has proved highly successful, with seven pre-schools across the UAE, having opened the first in Dubai. Many education franchises have worked very successfully in Dubai, building almost instantly on their established brand and expertise, although there is often a premium if the brand is well known. Even then, it takes an average of four to five years for a new school to reach capacity.
In 2015, GEMS Education in India announced it would open a GEMS Heritage Indian School in the central Dubai district of Al Barsha in April 2016, with April marking the start of the Indian school year. Once completed, the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum school will accommodate up to 10,000 students, making it one of the largest in the UAE. The school will house a cricket academy, a school of performing arts and music, and a debate academy. Fees are expected to range between AED14,000 and AED24,000 for the full school year.
UK-based educator Fortes Education also announced a new school for Dubai in 2016. Sunmarke School will open in Jumeirah and will offer a British curriculum and International Baccalaureate courses for up to 3,000 pupils. The school announced that annual tuition will range from AED44,900 for the foundation stage to AED70,900 for Year 13.
Quality
With such rapid expansion comes an emphasis on quality and here, too, there are noticeable achievements. Importantly, the fee-charging private schools are accountable to parents (more than to the government), who are free to choose whichever school they think offers the best learning environment for their child. This has given the system a remarkably high level of transparency, with schools ranked by performance and parent-child satisfaction, and the government taking a back seat in day-to-day regulation of almost the entire sector. Importantly, the schools manage to offer a range of price levels, so that affordable education remains readily accessible. And because Dubai is home to people from all over the world, the growing range of schools borne of foreign franchises is encouraging a multi-cultural environment to flourish, with most major languages and nationalities in the city catered for. Stiff—and growing—competition means that schools cannot afford to backslide, and good teachers are well paid. Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General of the KHDA, explained: “Our message to the right operator is to look at uniqueness, and that is what Dubai needs at this point, because now parents more than any other time have choices. We keep adding good seats. I think it is time to add unique seats, and that is what the parents are looking for."

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year In Review
Steady Ship
The drop in oil prices that shocked economies across the region is exactly the scenario Dubai has been preparing for. While the current climate may have dented its armor, the Emirate's role as a center for international commerce and services is keeping the economy growing.
read articleInterview
HE Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World Group
TBY talks to HE Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World Group and CEO/Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, on global economic trends, the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and investing in India.
read articleInterview
HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TBY talks to HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on business opportunities in Africa, its focus on innovation, and contributing to the development of the private sector.
read articleInterview
Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer , Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza)
TBY talks to Ibrahim Mohamed Aljanahi, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza), on priorities, growth strategies, and investment plans.
read articleInterview
Arif Obaid Al Dehail, CEO of the Departmant of Planning & Development , Trakhees
TBY talks to Arif Obaid Al Dehail, CEO of the Departmant of Planning & Development of Trakhees, on the achievement of the Dubai Special Development Zone, opportunities for investors, and his outlook for the year.
read articleFocus: Government Restructuring
Change for good
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is known for his innovative approach toward his country's future, but no one saw this change coming. The 12th Cabinet, with new ministers of happiness, tolerance, and youth, amongst other changes, is set to lead as an example not only in the region but also around the globe.
read articleInterview
Masood Ahmed, Director Middle East and Central Asia , Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
TBY talks to Masood Ahmed, Director Middle East and Central Asia Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the effects of reduced government spending, the benefits of tax revenues, and having a robust financial system.
read articleInterview
Wissam Khoury, Managing Director, SunGard Financial Systems
TBY talks to Wissam Khoury, Managing Director of Middle East & Africa of SunGard Financial Systems, on working with the Dubai Financial Market, using technology for Islamic banking, and making social media work for companies.
read articleInterview
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO & Managing Director , Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
TBY talks to HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO & Managing Director of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), on mitigating excess energy demand, new initiatives, and conserving water resources.
read articleFocus: Energy Sustainability
Make Hay While The Sun Shines
Dubai has long accepted the importance of energy diversification and environmental responsibility as a means of economic development. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, solar energy presents itself as a clear candidate to substitute traditional sources of power, but it is not the only renewable to play a part in Dubai's clean energy goals.
read articleFocus: IoT
It's a Dubai Thing
The IoT, or Internet of Things, is catching the attention of both the media and IT companies as they begin to see the value in a growing network of physical objects that can connect to the internet. And it certainly hasn't escaped the attention of Dubai, which is looking at every possible avenue to lead the race to become the smartest city in the world.
read articleReview: Transport
Fasten Your Seatbelts
Recent developments in the aviation industry mean that Dubai is well placed to benefit from increased passenger numbers—and an already well-established and international sector is about to accelerate its growth even more. Despite regional instabilities and the stubbornly low price of oil, the industry shows no sign of losing its pep.
read articleInterview
HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & CEO, Emirates Airline & Group
TBY talks to HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & CEO of Emirates Airline & Group, on the future of the aviation industry, staying ahead of the competition, and developments in the pipeline.
read articleInterview
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General & Chairman of the Board, Road and Transport Authority (RTA)
TBY talks to HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General & Chairman of the Board of the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), on rail projects in the pipeline, a new water canal project, and going green.
read articleReview: Maritime
A Look to Seaward
In less than half a century, Dubai has transformed its coastal maritime industry into a force to be reckoned with. Through the development of more facilities and the creation of a more robust regulatory environment, Dubai is looking to cement its place as a center of the global maritime industry.
read articleInterview
Yu Tao, President & CEO, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East)
TBY talks to Yu Tao, President & CEO of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East), on potential projects, doing business in Dubai, and the challenges the company has faced.
read articleInterview
Alharith Bin Salem Al Moosa, Vice Chairman and Deputy General Manager, Falconcity
TBY talks to Alharith Bin Salem Al Moosa, Vice Chairman and Deputy General Manager of Falconcity, on the inspiration behind Falconcity, current progress, and keeping up with the latest technologies and ideas.
read articleInterview
HE Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General , Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
TBY talks to HE Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), on key goals of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021 and the booming medical tourism sector.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director, Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)
TBY talks to HE Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), on how the dynamic free zone model of Dubai Healthcare City is leading as a health and wellness destination.
read articleFocus: Dubai Health Strategy 2021
Healthy choices
Dubai's booming health sector was in need of a robust model that could facilitate and implement the highest international standards. The new Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021 has laid out the path and aims to put the Emirate's healthcare sector at the forefront of global standards.
read articleInterview
Majid Kaddoumi, Vice President & Regional Managing Director of Middle East, Africa, Central Asia & Turkey, Medtronic META FZ-LLC
TBY talks to Majid Kaddoumi, Vice President & Regional Managing Director of Middle East, Africa, Central Asia & Turkey of Medtronic META FZ-LLC, on leveraging combined capabilities, formulating strategies, and developing the healthcare industry.
read articleReview: Education
Privately Prospering
The education sector in Dubai is entering a period of rapid expansion, growing by 10% YoY, with new schools outpacing population growth. In 2015 alone, 11 new schools opened, including eight British, two Indian, and one Canadian school. There are already 173 private schools in Dubai, and by 2020, 80 new private schools are expected to have opened across the Emirate.
read articleInterview
Prof. Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq, President & CEO, American University in the Emirates
TBY talks to Prof. Muthanna G. Abdul Razzaq, President & CEO of American University in the Emirates, on the Dubai job market, graduating responsible citizens, and the security of education.
read articleCommuniqué
The Immortality of the Pen
<strong></strong><strong>For many people, fountain pens bring back memories of school days full of inky fingers, smudged exercise books, and piles of pink blotting paper. For others, an elegant silver fountain pen is not only associated with long, sinuous lines of cursive script, but is also a treasured item.</strong>
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