Abu Dhabi aims to bring 2,000 Emirati teachers into private schools within five years

Abu Dhabi is stepping up efforts to bring more Emiratis into the teaching profession, targeting more than 2,000 UAE nationals for teaching positions in private schools over the next five years under a new Emiratisation policy.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) has introduced the policy in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). It establishes specific Emiratisation targets for teaching roles in the emirate’s private education sector, complementing existing federal requirements.

The initiative seeks to build a stronger national teaching workforce by creating clearer routes into the profession, supporting professional development and encouraging private school operators to recruit and train Emirati educators.

Five major education operators commit to hiring

Five private education operators have entered into strategic partnerships with Adek, pledging to recruit Emirati educators as part of the initiative.

Taaleem has committed to hiring more than 200 Emirati educators, followed by SABIS with over 150, Gems Education with more than 120, International Community Schools with over 77, and Liwa Education with more than 61.

Recruitment will initially focus on Social Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies, with hiring expected to expand gradually throughout the five-year implementation period.

The commitments place private school operators at the centre of Abu Dhabi’s drive to increase national participation in education and create more opportunities for Emiratis to pursue long-term careers in classrooms.

Training programmes open doors to teaching careers

Alongside employer commitments, Adek is expanding pathways to help UAE nationals enter teaching and develop the skills required for the profession.

The Midad short-term programme, launched earlier in 2026, offers an entry point for those exploring teaching as a career. Kon Moallim, introduced in 2025, provides a sponsored postgraduate diploma in education. Both programmes have been developed and are delivered in partnership with the Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE).

Nafis has also introduced a Teachers Programme, delivered by ECAE in partnership with Adek, with two pathways: Teacher and Teacher Assistant.

Eligible participants pursuing the Teacher pathway may receive a monthly financial incentive of up to Dh4,000 during their training, providing additional support as they prepare to enter the profession.

Together, these initiatives are designed to make teaching more accessible to Emirati candidates while helping them acquire the qualifications and practical experience needed to work in private schools.

Professional standards and workplace experience

The policy is anchored in the Abu Dhabi Educators’ Proficiency Framework, jointly developed by Adek and ECAE. The framework establishes the professional values and standards expected of educators across the emirate.

Another route is the Emirati Student Employment Contract programme, which allows eligible UAE nationals to begin working with an employer from the start of their studies. Participants receive a monthly salary, pension registration and on-the-job training, while their employment contributes towards the employer’s Emiratisation targets.

The arrangement offers students an opportunity to gain workplace experience while pursuing their studies, helping bridge the gap between education and employment.

Building on earlier commitments

The new policy builds on Adek’s agreement with Aldar Education in May 2026, under which the education group committed to creating more than 300 opportunities for Emirati educators across the schools it operates.

By combining recruitment commitments with training, financial support and professional standards, Abu Dhabi is seeking to make the private education sector a more attractive career destination for UAE nationals.

The success of the five-year drive will depend on how effectively schools translate their hiring commitments into sustained employment and support Emirati educators as they progress in their careers.