Abu Dhabi has launched a policy aimed at increasing the number of Emirati teachers in its private schools. The Emiratisation Policy for Private Education sets a goal of integrating more than 2,000 UAE nationals into the teaching workforce over the next five years. It introduces emirate-level Emiratisation targets for teaching posts in private schools, alongside arrangements intended to help candidates train, qualify and enter employment.
The announcement establishes a policy direction and a five-year programme of work, rather than reporting that 2,000 teachers have already been recruited. It combines regulatory expectations with employer commitments and development routes for people considering teaching careers. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said it will work with private schools across the emirate as the targets are put into effect.
Employer pledges form part of the plan
Five education operators have entered strategic partnerships connected to the policy: SABIS, Taaleem, GEMS Education, International Community Schools and Liwa Education. Their pledges concern future recruitment, training and placement of Emirati educators. Taaleem has committed to recruit more than 200 educators, SABIS more than 150, GEMS Education more than 120, International Community Schools more than 77 and Liwa Education more than 61.
Those commitments create hundreds of potential opportunities, but they should not be treated as appointments already made. Recruitment and integration are due to take place progressively during the five-year period. The public announcement sets out emirate-level teaching targets but does not give a numerical target for each school. How far the policy changes classroom staffing will depend on the eventual appointments, qualifications and retention of teachers.
Initial focus on three subjects
The first roles are expected to be in Social Studies, Arabic and Islamic Studies. The policy is anchored in the Abu Dhabi Educators’ Proficiency Framework, which sets out professional values and skills expected of educators across the emirate. The stated aim is to grow Emirati representation in classrooms while maintaining standards for teaching and supporting schools to find qualified staff.
The approach builds on an agreement signed with Aldar Education in May 2026, which committed to create more than 300 opportunities for Emirati educators. The new partnerships broaden the group of participating operators. They also connect the new policy targets to practical work on identifying candidates, preparing them for school roles and placing them with employers.
Training routes and support
The policy brings together the education department, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Nafis, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. The programme includes access to funded training, financial support and structured paths into private-sector education careers. Schools are intended to have access to national talent, qualification routes and school-based training as they work towards the targets.
An Emirati Student Employment Contract route allows participants to join an employer while studying. The arrangement can include financial support, a monthly salary, pension registration and practical workplace training. Participants can count towards their employer’s applicable Emiratisation targets, creating a link between study and a possible first role in a school.
Several development programmes sit alongside the recruitment commitments. Midad, launched earlier in 2026, is a short-term route for UAE nationals exploring teaching. Kon Moallim, introduced in 2025, offers a sponsored postgraduate qualification in education. A Teachers Programme provides separate Teacher and Teacher Assistant pathways for eligible jobseekers and people moving into education from another career. Eligible participants on the Teacher pathway may receive a monthly Nafis incentive of up to AED4,000 during training.
The policy therefore measures success over time, not at its launch. Its stated five-year objective is to create lasting routes into teaching for UAE nationals while giving private schools a clearer framework for recruitment and professional preparation. The number of people who complete training and take up posts will show how the commitments translate into the intended workforce change.
