The UAE leads the region, with 593 English-medium international schools and just under 600,000 students. The majority of international schools in the UAE are located in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai, which has the highest proportion of expatriates, also has the greatest concentration of international schools. Its Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which is responsible for private education, anticipates an increase in enrolment at international schools of 7 per cent each year for the next four years, and is planning significant school expansion. This will help to address the continuing demand.
According to the ISC Research 2015 Global Report, there are several reasons why there is such demand for international schools in the UAE. The wealth of the country, high numbers of expatriates, and demand for quality English-medium education from both expatriates and wealthy local families are all major factors, as is the decision by the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to allow unlimited enrolment of local children at international schools. Government support for school development is evident as part of UAE Vision 2021, which was launched in 2010 and aims, among other things, to transform the UAE’s education systems.
