UAE to require more than 78,000 new British curriculum school places by 2025

A new report from Colliers International reveals that the UAE will require an additional 78,000 seats in British curriculum schools by 2025.

Although British nationals account for only 4% of the UAE's population, the British curriculum is among the top three most popular curricula offered by schools in the country.

Some 85,000 students are enrolled in British curriculum schools in Dubai, accounting for approximately 33% of total students in Dubai, while in Abu Dhabi, 50,000 students are enrolled in British curriculum schools.

Colliers International director, healthcare, education and PPP Mansoor Ahmed attributes this demand to a number of factors. Speaking to Education Journal Middle East he said: "The popularity rests not only on the large presence of British nationals in the UAE, but as it is also favoured by number of other nationalities such as, Indian, Pakistani, nationals from different Arab and Commonwealth countries. There is also the demand from non-UK nationals to attend higher education in the UK with the British curriculum seen as at least a proponent and sometimes a prerequisite to entry."

According to Colliers data, the population of Dubai is expected to reach 4.6 million by 2025, while Abu Dhabi's population is expected to reach 5.9 million by 2025, subject to it maintaining the current growth rate patterns.

Based on the current population growth rate in the UAE and share of British curriculum schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, by 2025, Dubai will require an additional 166,000 private school seats, of which approximately 55,000 will be for British curriculum schools. Abu Dhabi will require an additional 101,000 seats in private schools sector, out which approximately 23,200 will be for British curriculum schools.

With an average size of 1,500 students per school, Dubai requires an estimated 37 new British curriculum schools by 2025, or roughly three schools every year. Abu Dhabi, with an average size of 1,300 students per school, will requires an estimated 18 new British curriculum schools by 2025 or roughly two schools every year.

(Read the full report in the September issue of Education Journal Middle East)