Population boom results in increasing demand for private education in UAE

Dubai: The growing population, both nationals and expatriates, is increasing demand for private education across the pre-KG, K-12, higher and vocational sectors in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East.

This observation was made by Tareq Al Ameri, Promotion and Business Development Division Manager at Abu Dhabi Education Council, while speaking at the second Education Investment Mena Conference in Dubai on Monday.

“There is a rising demand for private schools. In an effort to keep up with the annual growth rate of five per cent for more private schools across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, ADEC fully supports investors/operators in the private school sector,” he said.

Dino Varkey, chief operating officer of Gems Education, the global K-12 private education provider, concurs. Varkey participated in the Education Leaders Panel on Monday to discuss the critical role that private education is playing in global educational growth.

“We are witnessing a shift in the attitudes and mind-sets of those that matter. Today, there is a collective willingness to cast aside the traditional, intellectual debates about the role of private sector in education, in favour of an approach that seeks to bring together powerful partnerships in any, and all contexts, so that we may address the most significant challenge of this century — Quality Education for All, “ said Varkey.

The growth in education is not only confined to schools. Western branded higher education institutions are growing at a rate of 15 per cent per annum in the UAE. 

There are 120,000 students enrolled in the region’s higher education sector, of which 78,000 are in private institutions. 

Higher education penetration is growing significantly in the region with the UAE hosting 37 international branch campuses; the highest number in the world.

“This presents an opportunity for private investors to deploy capital in higher education institutions that can provide sustained and predictable income growth,” said Ashwin Assomull, partner at The Parthenon Group.

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