Dubai: The UAE continues to have the highest number of English-medium international schools (511) in the world.

This was found by the latest data on the growth of the international schools market published by ISC Research, part of The International Schools Consultancy (ISC).

The report also found that the Middle East and Africa region has the second-highest number of English-medium international schools geographically with a total of 1,616.

Asia came first with 4,346 English-medium international schools.

These findings showed that International schools are still on a growth trajectory in the Middle East and Africa region, according to the latest data on the growth of the international schools market published by ISC Research.

Going by country, the UAE leads the world with 511 international schools, an increase from 2014 (according to the previous 2014 ISC report) when it dominated with 439 international schools.

Other Arab countries made the top 15 list like Saudi Arabia (245 schools), Egypt (183) and Qatar (152) landing in fifth, ninth and fourteenth place, respectively.

Changing landscape

“The education landscape in the Middle East and Africa is changing very rapidly. Only last February, there were 505 schools in the UAE, and that number has increased by six.

"This kind of commitment to developing the education sector is prevalent in the region, where economic progress in recent years has put the spotlight on education as a key factor for future progress,” said Rhona Greenhill, Co-Founder, International and Private Schools Education Forum (IPSEF), which will take place in Dubai from September 29 to October 1 at the Dubai Knowledge Village Auditorium.

The forum gathers leading education experts from around the world to share key insights on the international and private school education sector in the region. English-medium international schools now provide education to over 4 million students around the world. This number has risen dramatically in recent years.

Just 15 years ago there were fewer than 1 million students, and five years ago there were 2.75 million.

Demand for places at international schools in many countries is growing at pace, driven by the desire to prepare children in the best possible way for higher education.