Education

The development of a knowledge-based economy and a highly skilled and productive workforce are key priorities of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. To this end the government continues to invest significantly in education, with 21% of federal spending under the UAE’s $38.11bn draft budget for 2014-16 going towards public and higher education. Meanwhile private schools have played an increasingly important role in recent years as their number rose from 181 to 185 between 2010/11 and 2012/13. Moving forward, partnerships with the private sector are helping to match university programmes with high-growth sectors, while several new Ministry of Education teacher-training programmes are expected to have an impact on the emirate’s human resources development and job creation strategies.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Amal Al Qubaisi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Education Council.