Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has launched a new Emiratisation Policy for Private Education, aiming to attract and prepare more than 2,000 Emirati teachers over the next five years. The initiative seeks to increase the representation of qualified UAE nationals in classrooms while strengthening the quality and sustainability of private education across the emirate.

The policy was announced in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS), and several private education operators. It combines recruitment commitments with professional training, funded qualification pathways and structured career opportunities for Emirati citizens interested in entering or transitioning into the teaching profession.

A central feature of the policy is the introduction of Emiratisation targets specifically for teaching positions in Abu Dhabi’s private schools. These targets complement existing federal Emiratisation requirements while establishing a dedicated framework for developing Emirati teaching talent. Participating schools will gain access to screened national candidates, practical classroom training opportunities and qualification programmes.

Several major private education operators have already made recruitment commitments. Taaleem has pledged to recruit more than 200 Emirati educators, SABIS more than 150, GEMS Education more than 120, International Community Schools more than 77, and Liwa Education more than 61. These commitments support the wider objective of bringing more than 2,000 UAE nationals into the teaching workforce progressively over five years.

The initial recruitment effort will focus on Social Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies, while additional training and placement opportunities will be developed as the policy progresses. The programme is supported by Abu Dhabi’s Educators’ Proficiency Framework, which establishes the professional values and competencies expected of educators, including cultural respect, professional integrity, lifelong learning and educational excellence.

The new Teachers Programme, supported through NAFIS, offers two main pathways: Teacher and Teacher Assistant. Eligible Emirati participants enrolled in the Teacher pathway may receive a monthly financial incentive of up to AED4,000 throughout their training period. The payment is subject to eligibility requirements and should not be interpreted as a universal allowance for all school employees or applicants.

The announcement is particularly relevant to UAE nationals seeking teaching careers and to private schools planning their future recruitment strategies. Expatriate teachers working in the private education sector may also wish to follow the policy’s implementation, although the announcement does not establish a blanket requirement to dismiss or immediately replace expatriate teaching staff.

ADEK stated that the initiative aims to build a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified Emirati educators and strengthen the private education system through long-term professional development, practical teaching experience and closer cooperation with school operators. The recruitment target remains a five-year objective rather than a claim that all planned appointments have already been completed.

Source: Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK)