Abu Dhabi: The UAE is fast becoming a hot destination for foreign education organisations as well as investors, according to a report titled ‘The Education Sector in the UAE to 2016’ released recently.
With academic excellence remaining a key focus of the government, the UAE education sector now accounts for approximately 24 per cent of total government expenditure and is estimated at a market size of $7.3 billion (Dh26.8 billion), recent studies announced on Tuesday.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Najah, the education, training and careers fair held in Abu Dhabi, will hold its seventh event to attract a surge of visitors and exhibitors.
The exhibition will take place from October 29 to 31 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
“As the higher education sector continues to grow every year, the Najah fair provides great opportunities for organisations to enter this dynamic market and capitalise on the growing education sector,” said Khurram Saeed, exhibition director for Najah.
Around Dh8.2 billion was set aside for the educational sector in 2012.
“Education remains a key focal point for the UAE government, which has set aside Dh8.2 billion of its Dh41 billion federal budget in 2012 particularly for the educational sector, in response to a growing number of young people in the country,” Saeed told Gulf News earlier.
Additionally, prominent institutions will be participating at this year’s fair, including Abu Dhabi University, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, the American University of Sharjah, Masdar Institute, Al Ain University and the University of Jazeera.
International pavilions from Australia, Malaysia, the USA and Japan will also be seen at the three-day exhibition.
Around 69 per cent of all visitors to the Najah exhibition in 2012 were Emiratis and the vast majority were either school leavers or recent graduates who came to explore future careers in education.
