For decades, education systems have followed a familiar pattern. Go to school. Get a degree. Enter the workforce. It was a model built for predictability. For economies where industries changed slowly. For a time when a single skill set could last an entire career. That is not the world we live in any more.
Education can no longer be a pipeline that ends with graduation. It has to be a living system, one that adapts as fast as the world around it. One that does not just prepare people for jobs that exist today, but equips them to create the industries of tomorrow.
Few places are better positioned to lead this shift than the UAE. Today, the country marks its first Emirati Day for Education – a moment to reflect on how far it has come, but more importantly, a moment to ask: what comes next?
Because here is the thing: the UAE is not just building a better education system. It is building a new kind of education ecosystem altogether.
The UAE has become a global testbed for the evolution of education. Top universities and schools are not just expanding here; they are immersing themselves in the UAE’s unique environment to rethink what education must become for a rapidly changing world.
Institutions such as Harrow School Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Georgetown University Dubai, NYU Abu Dhabi, and many others from around the world have chosen the UAE not just as a location, but as a laboratory for the future of education.
And that is what makes the UAE different. It is not importing education models. It is shaping them.
In most countries, global institutions bring their systems, plug them in, and carry on as usual. In the UAE, the opposite happens. The country’s diversity, global positioning and rapid economic shifts challenge these institutions to evolve.
What happens when your student body represents 200 nationalities? When government and industry are constantly reinventing themselves? When entire sectors – AI, space, sustainability – are being built in real time? You do not just teach differently. You redefine what education itself must become.
Universities and schools here are experimenting with new approaches to interdisciplinary learning, leadership development and technology integration. They are moving beyond traditional degree structures, testing lifelong learning models that follow students into their careers. They are aligning education with real industry needs, so that graduates do not just enter the workforce – they shape it.
And they are doing it because of the UAE, not in spite of it. But the most important shift is not happening inside classrooms. It is happening outside them.
The UAE has never been afraid to redefine what a country can do, how fast it can do it, and what it can contribute to the world. Education should be no different
The UAE is not just asking how to improve education. It is asking how to rewire the entire talent system, so that learning and work do not just interact, but also evolve together. This shift is already happening.
Dubai’s private school students ranked fifth globally in science and seventh in maths, outperforming many advanced economies. Abu Dhabi University jumped 60 places to rank 191st globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, while Khalifa University is now among the top 30 young universities worldwide. The UAE’s investments in AI, sustainability and space exploration are not just shaping industries, they are also reshaping the skills that education needs to prioritise.
At the same time, homegrown innovation is taking root.
Schools such as Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School (KBZA) in Abu Dhabi and Najmara in Dubai are redefining what future-ready learning looks like. KBZA fuses Emirati heritage with modern pedagogy, proving that global education does not have to come at the expense of local identity. Najmara is giving traditional education entirely, making it more hands-on, character-driven, deeply tied to the world beyond the classroom.
Together, these approaches form a blueprint for what education could be. One where learning is lifelong. Where education is not something you complete, but something that grows with you.
There is an old assumption in education. Build great schools, and the rest will take care of itself. But in today’s world, the real measure of an education system is not how many students graduate – it is what those graduates go on to build, solve and lead.
Imagine an education model where degrees are not just credentials but embedded in national projects, global problem-solving and leadership training. Where AI-driven, real-time learning adapts to industry shifts, ensuring that what students learn remains relevant.
This is not a distant vision. It is a challenge – one the UAE is positioned to answer. This is not just about celebrating what the country has achieved; it is about committing to what is possible next.
The UAE has never been afraid to redefine what a country can do, how fast it can do it, and what it can contribute to the world. Education should be no different.
The future will not be shaped by those who wait for the perfect system to emerge. It will be built by those who design it first. The UAE has that opportunity. Now is the time to seize it.
READ MORE: Education in Abu Dhabi is a collective responsibility
UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
