Ajman has invested heavily in its education sector, which is largely shaped by the aims of the local and national strategic development plans Ajman Vision 2030 and We the UAE 2031 Vision. The government aims to develop a knowledge-based society to drive economic diversification. Education reform has focused on creating a system and curricula that foster student skills development in line with UAE labour market needs and encourage graduates to establish careers in the private as well as the public sector.
Oversight
The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE), oversees and administers all stages of education in Ajman, from the pre-primary to the tertiary level across the public and private realm. The Emirates Schools Establishment, created in 2016, is an independent federal body designed to enhance the efficiency of public schools. Meanwhile, the Federal Authority for Quality and Standards of Education measures educational outcomes, student performance and sector efficiency. The Federal Authority for Early Childhood Education, created in 2022, focuses on pre-primary and primary education until fourth grade. It develops policies, strategies, legislation and programmes, issues licences, and monitors government and private nurseries across the UAE in coordination with the local authorities.
Ajman’s school system follows the overarching UAE model but is shaped by the emirate’s development strategy, known as Ajman Vision 2030. The plan focuses on building human capital by providing high-quality education that drives academic achievement and prepares students for the future – encouraging research, development and innovation (RD&I) in the emirate, and strengthening workforce skills and lifelong learning. Ajman Vision 2030 aligns with the country’s 10-year We the UAE 2031 development plan, which seeks to create an environment that produces individuals who are pioneering, knowledgeable and invested in continuing education. The MoE’s 2016 National Strategy for Higher Education 2030 endeavours to equip students with the technical and practical skills to support economic development, and prepare them for the UAE’s labour market. It includes 33 initiatives for the implementation of the strategy and outlines four key pillars – quality, efficiency, innovation and harmonisation.
Programmes
The federal government set the National Youth Agenda 2031, which is aimed at preparing youth with relevant job market skills to drive economic diversification beyond oil and gas, with a focus on science and technology. There is a significant opportunity to shape the Ajman education system around needs of the private job sector to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for the UAE labour market. The federal government aims to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including providing quality education to all students.
To achieve this, the government has introduced initiatives such as smart learning programmes, new teacher codes, licensing and evaluation systems, and curriculum revision in recent years. It also reformed the K-12 structure and curriculum under the UAE MoE 2015-21 development plan, to better prepare students for tertiary-level studies at home and abroad. Public education in Ajman and across the UAE is free for students from pre-primary to the tertiary level. In 2012 the government passed a law increasing the compulsory school attendance age to 18 or grade 12, whichever occurs first. In 2016 the government launched the National Literacy Strategy to promote and protect the Arabic language and reading skills.
In 2023 the Private Education Coordination Office and the Ajman Transport Authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve the quality of education in Ajman by enhancing student transport services. The objective was to provide safe, efficient transport links between educational institutions across the emirate. The scheme included new training programmes and workshops for those employed in the transport sector. The 2024 federal budget was Dh64.1bn ($17.4bn), which is around 1.6% higher than that of 2023. The government allocated Dh26.7bn ($7.3bn), or 42% of the total budget, to social development and social benefits, including Dh10.2bn ($2.8bn), or 16%, to public and university education programmes. Ajman’s GDP grew 6.3% in 2022, and education was the sixth-highest contributor to the emirate’s GDP, accounting for approximately 4%.
Sector Breakdown
Ajman follows the K-12 schooling system, with four streams: the general stream, the professional stream, the advanced stream and the elite stream (Advanced Science Programme). There is kindergarten from ages four to five years, primary school from grades one to four, middle school from grades six to nine and the secondary or vocational level from grades nine to 12. Upon completion of secondary education students are awarded a Secondary School Leaving Certificate. Those who follow the vocational path receive a Technical Secondary Diploma.
There are more than 75 public and private schools in Ajman from the primary to secondary level. There are also three pre-primary education institutions in Ajman: Al Hikmah Private School, Al Bahjah Kindergarten and Al Amani Kindergarten. Approximately 210,000 students were enrolled in the pre-primary education level in the UAE in 2021, compared to 166,600 in 2014. Approximately 1.5m students were enrolled in all levels of education in the UAE in 2021. The intake of foreign students across the country has remained stable, from 55% of the total students in 2012 to 53% in 2022.
Per capita spending on education in the UAE is expected to increase annually between 2024 and 2029, to $8.9bn by the end of the period, marking a growth of almost 37%. Recognising the emirate’s commitment to lifelong learning and sustainable development, in 2024 UNESCO granted Ajman membership to its global network of Learning Cities. It joined 356 other Learning Cities, including the emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. This demonstrates Ajman’s efforts to adopt comprehensive and sustainable education strategies and the government’s commitment to enhancing learning opportunities for all residents.
Human Capital
The growth of Ajman’s education sector has been supported by the development of Ajman Free Zone (AFZ), which is home to 170 education-based facilities with modern infrastructure, and offers educational institutions a strategic location. The institutions are accessible for both Ajman-based students and youth from other emirates. The educational offering in the AFZ aligns with market needs, with a focus on the industries operating within the area.
The MoE and the AFZ signed an MoU in 2024 for the licensing of higher education institutions (HEIs) to provide high-quality tertiary education and enhance graduate competitiveness in the job market. The annual Ajman International Education and Training Exhibition (AETEX), which has run since 2013, attracts public and private university and education sector representatives from across the UAE and other countries. The MoE and the Ajman Chamber see AETEX as an opportunity to promote Ajman as an educational centre in the GCC region. In 2015 and 2016 AETEX attracted representatives from over 65 international educational institutions, as well as more than 3500 students from Ajman, and the emirates of Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima and Umm Al Quwain. The Ajman Statistics Centre’s Ajman Emirate Attractiveness Index for 2023 indicated that 98.2% of participants were satisfied with education services. The results revealed that 99% of surveyed participants felt a sense of security with Ajman’s education sector, while the quality of services received a satisfaction rate of 97.3%, and ease of access obtained a score of 99.3%.
Public Sector Education
Ajman is developing a public education sector shaped around its economic blueprint, which aligns with the national development strategy. Ajman Vision 2030 establishes the strategic objective of building human capital capable of achieving the emirate’s aspirations. This will be realised by ensuring world-class education that drives academic achievement and prepares students for the future, encouraging RD&I in the emirate, and strengthening workforce skills and lifelong learning. Equality and inclusion in public education have improved immensely in recent years, in line with the aim of promoting gender equality – empowering women, children, youth, people of determination and the elderly. Literacy rates across the UAE have increased from 38% for women in 1975 to 98% in 2022, and from 58% to 99% for men. This shift has been supported by the development of the National Literacy Strategy following the government’s designation of 2016 as the Year of Reading.
The UAE is one of the signatories of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and has modernised its education system to enhance access for students with physical and mental disabilities. The MoE established the People of Determination Department in 2008 to protect the rights of students and providing them with equal opportunities alongside their peers. In December 2024 Ajman University (AU) inaugurated the Centre for Inclusive Learning. Ajman also has several special needs education centres, including Al Fordos Centre, Cedra Centre for Special Needs, Al Ghad Centre and Ajman Rehabilitation Centre for Disability.
The UAE participated in several international tests to examine and benchmark the performance levels of its education system in the two decades prior to 2025. In the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment 2022, students in the UAE scored lower than the OECD average in maths, reading and science, while a smaller proportion of top performers in at least one subject. The results showed that 51% of students attained at least level 2 proficiency in maths, compared to the OECD average of 69%, while 52% of students attained level 2 or higher in reading, compared to the OECD’s 74%. Meanwhile 55% attained level 2 or higher in science, compared to the OECD’s 76%.
Private Sector
In the 2023/24 academic year, there were 45 private schools in Ajman, according to the MoE. The ministry is responsible for setting the guidelines for private schools, and though it does not establish the curriculum, schools must follow the MoE curriculum for Arabic, Islamic studies and social studies. Ajman hosts several international schools, most of which follow the General Certificate of Secondary Education, and A-level or International Baccalaureate curriculum and examination structure. Ajman has the opportunity to enhance its private school offerings by developing digital resources and reports that showcase the variety of schools and educational services available to students of all ages.
In 2017 the UAE introduced the Teacher and Educational Leadership Standards and Licensing Programme, aligning with the National Agenda 2021. This initiative standardised teacher qualifications for all educators in public and private schools, requiring them to pass a national exam and submit a portfolio. Developed by the National Qualifications Authority, the MoE and other bodies, the programme ensures teaching excellence. Additionally, AU offers a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, equipping students with the skills needed for an education career. The UAE faces a projected shortfall in teaching staff, with an estimated need for up to 30,000 additional educators by 2030 to meet the growing demand across all levels of education. This presents a significant opportunity to encourage more Emiratis to pursue careers in teaching through targeted incentives and initiatives.
Universities & Higher Education
While the MoE oversees the higher education sector, the Commission for Academic Accreditation licenses higher education institutions and accredits their programmes. Ajman has five HEIs – the largest being AU, the first private university in the GCC, founded in 1988. It has expanded in recent years, with 1735 students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in 2018/19 compared to 974 in 2012/13. In 2018, 94 students were enrolled in a graduate diploma and 155 were studying for a master’s degree. It offers 39 undergraduate and graduate programmes in business, dentistry, engineering, health sciences, humanities, ICT, law and pharmacy.
AU ranks 477th globally, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. It also placed first in the UAE for climate action in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024. The university’s development is guided by its Strategic Plan 2022-27, which highlights several goals, including developing student skills in line with labour market needs and improving sustainability.
Other HEIs include City University College of Ajman (CUCA), which was established in 2011 and offers a curriculum based on the US education system model. All CUCA programmes are accredited by the MoE to meet international employment requirements. It offers degrees in advertising, business management, law, and public relations, as well as professional training courses. Gulf Medical University, established in 1998, offers degrees in dentistry, health sciences, medicine, nursing and pharmacy. It is one of the largest private medical universities in the Middle East. The Global Learning Centre University is located within Ajman Free Zone, with its headquarters in Dubai. Its programme offerings include a diploma in business and an extended diploma in business management. The University College of Mother and Family Sciences is a female-only HEI offering arts and social sciences courses. There is a skills gap between Emirati graduates and private sector jobs, a challenge which the government has addressed by introducing targets for the Emiratisation of the private sector – aiming for nationals to contribute 5% of the private labour force by 2021. The government required private businesses employing more than 50 people to hire at least a 2% Emirati workforce. Under the national Nafis programme, the government increased the Emiratisation aim to 10% of the private workforce by 2025.
Universities in Ajman are working to foster relationships with foreign HEIs to attract international students and make it easier for Emirati students to study abroad. The UAE hosted over 237,000 international students in 2023. AU has established ties with the University of Nottingham, Queen Mary University of London and the University of Sussex in the UK. New partnerships with foreign universities are expected to help enhance learning outcomes in line with national aims to prepare students for life in the public and private sector workforce to support economic diversification. The UAE and the UK signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2021 to collaborate in nine priority areas, including emerging renewable energy technologies, hydrogen, life sciences, smart and green sustainable manufacturing, and space. In 2024 the Ajman Chamber met with the ambassador of Ireland to explore investment opportunities in key sectors, including education. The two parties discussed the development of an integrated educational infrastructure that aligns with Ajman’s Vision 2030 to develop a knowledge-based workforce.
Professional & Vocational Training
The government views technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as key to developing a knowledge-based workforce that will support economic diversification. The UAE aims to provide students with affordable access to TVET, prioritising courses that help students develop relevant skills in new and emerging technologies, materials and systems to respond to private sector workforce needs. The National Qualifications Centre (NQC) develops the framework for national TVET qualifications and regulates the sector. Meanwhile, the Vocational Education and Training Awards Council is a federal-level supervisory and regulatory body that supports NQC’s management of the sector. The government introduced the EmiratesSkills programme to offer students across the UAE the opportunity to compete in national, regional and world skills competitions. The scheme has categories for middle and secondary school students and disabled students. It includes skills areas such as construction and building technology, engineering, ICT and manufacturing.
Technology
The UAE has embraced education technology in recent years as part of its aim for greater digitalisation across all sectors of the economy. Ajman’s Vision 2030 outlines the strategic principle of Future Preparedness, committing to being well-equipped for the needs of 2030 and beyond. The emirate will analyse and anticipate future trends and challenges in all areas of development, and harness modern technologies and innovative solutions. This will depend on the rollout of new technologies in schools and the provision of ICT classes. The UAE’s ICT curriculum focuses on developing skills in digital literacy and competence, computational thinking, computer practice and programming, cybersafety, cybersecurity and cyberethics. AU announced plans to launch a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the spring of 2025, to develop student skills for a career in AI engineering, data science, intelligent systems, machine learning and robotics. It includes a 16-week internship to prepare students for the job market. In 2021 the MoE partnered with Ajman’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team to provide distance learning options to all students during the Covid-19 pandemic. This encouraged educational institutions to digitalise and provide online teaching options, which has supported greater modernisation in such institutions following the pandemic. There is a significant opportunity for Ajman’s government to develop its online resources to share more information about the emirate and promote it as an education centre for students looking to study in the UAE.
Outlook
The MoE’s education reform, new curricula development and the digitalisation of UAE institutions are driving sector modernisation and improving education quality nationwide. In Ajman, these efforts are complemented by technology adoption in schools, enhancing learning outcomes across the emirate. With a thriving private sector, particularly in its free zone, Ajman has become an educational node for local and foreign students. AU’s strong international rankings are fostering new partnerships with global institutions and helping bridge the graduate skills gap. Aligned with Ajman Vision 2030, the sector is focusing on sustainable development and labour market skills, with curricula updates supporting a shift towards a knowledge-based economy and the Emiratisation workforce initiative.
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