The Middle East

Although the emirate’s post-secondary education sector has already witnessed unprecedented growth in the past decade, universities in Abu Dhabi are still looking to increase student numbers, particularly in the postgraduate segment. The government’s focus on research and innovation has fostered strong expansion of postgraduate programmes and enrolment in recent years,...

The development of a knowledge-based economy and skilled workforce are critical components of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the emirate’s long-term development plan, as evidenced by the strong growth in the education sector over the past decade. Government spending on education remains high, guided by mid-and long-term strategies targeting innovation, career...

As is the case in many developing countries, the economic costs of substance abuse are increasing in Abu Dhabi. The financial burdens of lost productivity, incarceration, treatment and rehabilitation have led the emirate to move forward on an ambitious expansion of the government-owned National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), which has already seen in-patient and outpatient...

The health sector in Abu Dhabi has expanded rapidly on the back of a mandatory medical insurance scheme and a number of new hospital projects aimed at improving specialty and emergency care in the emirate, which could reduce medical revenue outflows that have had a negative impact on domestic growth. Private developers have had a great deal of success under the...

Private expansion represents a critical means by which growing patient needs in Abu Dhabi can be met, although the government has played an important investment role in the rollout of new hospitals. Facilities including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Healthpoint and Tawam Molecular Imaging Centre all stand as examples of successful...