Despite its small size, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) punches well above its weight when it comes to education. According to the latest UNESCO Institute for Statistics figures, approximately 8,500 UAE students study abroad at the tertiary level, while it hosts more than 54,000 students, primarily from Asia and the Gulf. As a result of the exponential growth of enrolment at its K-12 and higher education institutions, the UAE and Dubai have become one of the largest regional education hubs, attracting billions of dollars in investment. Our interview with Mrs. Suad Alhalwachi, Director of Education Zone, an agency based in Dubai, enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of the UAE’s education sector and explore current regional trends. Our conversation is presented below in two video excerpts, along with additional market support information.
How do you Define Literacy?
You might think of reading and writing abilities. It’s actually more complicated than that, though, wouldn’t you agree? Literacy is commonly understood as a binary concept, in which a person is either literate or illiterate. However, literacy varies from country to country.
Throughout the world, literacy has been proven to have the greatest impact on individual success, allowing people to complete school and find a job. Individuals’ well-being and life satisfaction can also be positively impacted by literacy. Considering how literacy’s meaning changes from one culture to another, the meaning of literacy quickly becomes more complex. It doesn’t necessarily follow that you are literate in another culture if you are literate in one.
Why is This the Case?
Cultural differences include languages spoken, writing systems used, and values and practices held! Anthropologists have begun to explore literacy across cultures to gain a more comprehensive understanding of literacy.
In the UAE, the Literacy Rate is High…
Investors, providers, and students are drawn to the UAE’s education market due to its maturity. Although its ambitions remain unwavering, what are the realities on the ground? The education sector’s trends over time tell us a lot about its segments, and what are the main differences between them?
Global Competitiveness Report 2017-18 ranked the UAE among the top 30 macroeconomic environments in the world, making the country the largest FDI destination.
In an effort to drive more foreign investment into the country and attract long-term residents, the government recently introduced ownership laws that allow foreign investors to own 100% of companies outside free zones. The Middle East’s education sector ranks second in terms of private equity transactions among all sectors, as more and more private equity firms invest in education portfolios in light of this climate. Although living costs continue to rise in the UAE, the impact of VAT on education sector growth is yet to be determined, given the high cost of living. Due to the move, some established investors have had to reevaluate their investment decisions, at least for the upcoming academic year. A tuition freeze has already been implemented by the Dubai government as part of its efforts to protect parents.
UAE Literacy Rate as of Today
The United Arab Emirates are covered by that indicator between 1975 and 2019. According to the United Arab Emirates Center for Economic Research, the average rate for the United Arab Emirates during that time period was 77.58 percent with a minimum of 53.51 percent in 1975 and a maximum of 95.53 percent in 2019. From 2019 to date, 95.53 percent has been recorded. Comparatively, the world average in 2019 based on 26 countries was 92.24 percent. Compare trends over time by using the country comparator or by viewing the global rankings.
In 2017-18, the UAE dropped to 2015-16 levels in the Global Competitiveness Index, making it the least competitive country in the Arab World. Other countries had improved relative to the U.S., highlighting the importance of accelerating change. Competitiveness is driven largely by education.
The Population of the UAE who are Literate
In the UAE, 98% of the population is literate, according to the World Bank. As of 2019, it is 96%, up from 90% in 2005. Thus, the government’s socioeconomic policies have contributed to a consistent increase in literacy in the country. Expatriates are another obvious reason for the UAE’s high expat population. The United Arab Emirates offers a wide range of employment opportunities, which attracts educated people from around the world.
Here are Some Facts and Figures:
- It is estimated that 95.8% of UAE women are literate.
- Both men and women have been educated in the UAE. Men had an adult literacy rate of 54 percent in 1975, while women had an adult literacy rate of 31 percent. Nearly 95 percent of all adults are literate today.
- It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of the student population at two of the three federal colleges is female.
- The percentage of female high-school graduates seeking tertiary education is 95%. Compared with the percentage of male high-school graduates at 80 percent.
- In government universities and private tertiary schools, almost two-thirds of all students are female
- It is estimated that 77% of Emirati females enroll in secondary school and 70% graduate from university.
- There are more than 10,000 female students enrolled in Higher Colleges of Technology.
- Female graduates from government universities in the UAE make up 56% of STEM graduates
- In Abu Dhabi, 60% of Emirati graduate students attend the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
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