Right To Education: UAE Marks International Day With Global Commitments To Expanding Learning Access
The United Arab Emirates is reinforcing its global role in advancing education and knowledge sharing. This approach reflects a strong belief that learning supports sustainable development and long-term stability. On 24th January, the UAE will mark International Day of Education, highlighting support for universal education rights, particularly for communities under severe humanitarian pressure.
Education also sits at the heart of national planning in the UAE. It forms a central part of a comprehensive, future-driven vision. Emirati Day for Education falls each year on 28th February, recalling the 1982 graduation of the first teacher cohort from the United Arab Emirates University and underlining the profession’s importance.
Education has remained a major theme in the UAE’s foreign aid portfolio. Since 2018, the country has provided US$200 million to the Global Partnership for Education. This support continues until 2025 and helps fund education programmes in developing nations, where funding gaps remain large and learning conditions are fragile.
The UAE’s work abroad includes building schools and universities, alongside funding scholarships and grants. Many Emirati humanitarian organisations have constructed thousands of schools in different regions. These organisations have also trained hundreds of thousands of teachers, improving classroom quality and helping education systems recover after conflict or economic stress.
Since its launch in 2020, the Digital School, under Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has expanded quickly. More than 750,000 students have used its digital learning platforms. Over 23,000 digital teachers have also received training, improving skills in online instruction and helping remote communities access structured education.
In the Republic of Senegal, the UAE has supported vocational pathways through the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Vocational Education. The institute can host around 1,000 students. It trains young people in practical and cognitive skills that match labour market needs and support economic and social development in Senegal.
| Initiative | Country / Region | Year | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Vocational Education | Republic of Senegal | – | Capacity of about 1,000 students; focus on vocational and cognitive skills |
| Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Educational Complexes | Al-Azariq and Jahaf, Al-Dhale'a Governorate, Yemen | October last year | Each complex: 24 classrooms, computer halls, science labs, modern administration |
| School Bag Project | Al Hudaydah and Taiz, Yemen | – | 26,000 school bags distributed to 26,000 students |
| Digital School global beneficiaries | Multiple countries | Since 2020 | More than 750,000 students and 23,000 digital teachers supported |
In Yemen, the UAE has focused on rebuilding damaged education infrastructure. In October last year, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Educational Complexes opened in Al-Azariq and Jahaf Districts in Al-Dhale'a Governorate. The first phase of each site provides 24 classrooms for basic and secondary levels, plus computer suites, science laboratories and modern administrative spaces.
The Emirates Red Crescent has complemented these efforts with direct support for pupils. In the governorates of Al Hudaydah and Taiz, the organisation launched the "School Bag Project". The initiative distributed 26,000 school bags to 26,000 students, helping families meet basic schooling needs during ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Future vision and UAE education digital partnerships
The Digital School has also entered new partnerships to widen its reach. In November 2025, it launched a strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The agreement targets digital education ecosystems, youth digital skills, and future readiness across sectors linked to sustainable development and global digital transformation.
Earlier, in October 2025, the Digital School began a programme with the Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The initiative aims to train 10,000 digital teachers. The advanced training, delivered with Arizona State University in the United States, focuses on modern digital teaching methods and practical classroom applications.
Inside the UAE, the past year has brought broad reforms in the education sector. Authorities have updated curricula, increased attention on future technologies and advanced skills, and improved higher education and scholarship frameworks. The year 2025 is associated with initiatives that support talent, expand scientific research and back economic, social and environmental progress.
Together, these international and domestic initiatives show how the UAE links education with long-term stability and sustainable development. By investing in schools, teachers, digital platforms and research, and by marking days such as International Day of Education and Emirati Day for Education, the country continues to back knowledge as a core national and global priority.
With inputs from WAM
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