11 answers, 4 from the United Arab Emirates's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
The adult literacy rate in the UAE was 98.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO data published by the World Bank. It was 98.1% in 2023.
The rate covers people aged 15 and over who can read and write a short simple statement about their everyday life. The UAE Government fact sheet gives 98% as of 2022. Because most adults are foreign workers educated abroad, the rate largely reflects education systems in other countries.
The 2026 federal budget allocates AED 17.2 billion, or 19% of the budget, to public university education programmes, according to the Ministry of Finance. Across all levels of government, public spending on education was 3.9% of GDP in 2021, according to UNESCO data published by the World Bank.
Federal spending funds the federal public school system and universities, while Abu Dhabi and Dubai fund schools from their own budgets. A large share of children attend fee-paying private schools, whose spending is not in these totals.
The gross tertiary enrolment ratio in the UAE was 63.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO data published by the World Bank, up from 61.3% in 2023. The gross secondary enrolment ratio was 102.1%.
A gross ratio divides all students enrolled by the population of the official age group, so it can exceed 100% when older or international students are included. The UAE hosts many international branch campuses. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research licenses institutions and accredits programmes.
Private schools are regulated by emirate-level authorities, according to the UAE Government portal. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) licenses and accredits private schools; all have had to register with it since September 2008 and are inspected under the Irtiqa'a programme.
In Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) regulates private schools and publishes inspection ratings. In the other emirates, the federal Ministry of Education oversees private schools. The portal notes that the UAE's residents come from more than 200 nationalities, and private schools teach many different curricula.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, net primary school enrolment in the United Arab Emirates was 95.0% in 2017. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2007. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 95.2%; the United Arab Emirates is 9th highest of 15. World rank, highest first: 59th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in the United Arab Emirates was 102.1% in 2024. Since 2018 it has ranged from 99.2% (2020) to 103.2% (2021). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 95.1%, and the United Arab Emirates placed 3rd highest of 13. Worldwide: 27th of 100.
In 2024, gross tertiary enrolment in the United Arab Emirates was 63.7%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the highest since at least 2018. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 48.2%; the United Arab Emirates is 2nd highest of 11. Worldwide: 33rd of 90.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in the United Arab Emirates was 98.8% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005.
3.9% of GDP: that is government spending on education in the United Arab Emirates for 2021, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 5.2% of GDP, and the United Arab Emirates placed 7th highest of 10. Worldwide: 96th of 158.
In 2016, the number of primary pupils per teacher in the United Arab Emirates was 25, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 7th highest of 18 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 21. World rank, highest first: 45th of 136.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in the United Arab Emirates at 99.2% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 105.1%; its low point was 2006, at 89.1%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 95.4%; the United Arab Emirates is 2nd highest of 14. Worldwide: 39th of 131.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error