The key facts
- Over five years, private schools in Abu Dhabi will hire 2,000 Emirati teachers
- Priority subjects: social studies, Arabic language, Islamic studies
- Partners: Nafis, Emirates College for Advanced Education, GEMS, Taaleem, Sabis, ICS, Liwa Education
New Emiratisation policy for private education
On Friday, October 23, Abu Dhabi authorities announced plans to hire 2,000 teachers — UAE citizens — in the capital's private schools over the next five years. The Emiratisation Policy for Private Education aims to prepare a new generation of Emirati educators and expand the existing Emiratisation strategy: whereas previous targets concerned mainly administrative roles, the focus is now shifting to teaching positions. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Human Resources, the Council for the Competitiveness of Emirati Talent (Nafis) and private education operators — GEMS Education, Taaleem, Sabis, International Community Schools and Liwa Education.
Priority subjects and workforce training
In the first phase, recruitment will be for positions teaching social studies, Arabic language and Islamic studies, with gradual integration over five years. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), together with Emirates College for Advanced Education, is launching a teacher training programme that includes specialised instruction, practical classroom preparation and employment in the private education sector. It is open to Emirati applicants and those wishing to move into a teaching career, subject to the established requirements. Two tracks are provided — for teachers and teaching assistants. Under the Nafis programme, launched in September 2021 with the goal of raising the share of UAE citizens to 10% of skilled jobs in private companies by the end of 2026, participants may receive monthly financial support of up to 4,000 dirhams while studying.
School operators' commitments
Adek has already signed an agreement with Aldar Education to create more than 300 places for Emirati teachers, and has now concluded strategic partnerships with five more operators. Taaleem has committed to hiring more than 200 Emirati educators, Sabis more than 150, GEMS Education more than 120, International Community Schools at least 77, and Liwa Education at least 61.
Context of the Emiratisation strategy
Companies in the UAE with at least 50 employees, including schools, are required to increase the share of Emirati employees by 1% every six months and reach 10% by the end of the current year; significant fines are provided for non-compliance. According to government data published in July, more than 190,000 Emiratis work in 32,000 private companies. In April, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, announced the extension of the Emiratisation strategy to 2040 and presented a number of updates: expanding child benefits for Emiratis by removing the previous limit on the number of children, as well as introducing a salary support programme for children of Emirati women and wives of citizens working in the private sector.
