United Arab Emirates
Last updated July 15, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Access & Parity is strong, but Human Capital lags
United Arab Emirates shows progressing readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (82nd percentile worldwide). Reforms are translating into broader capability, though uneven performance continues to slow system-wide alignment.
- Global percentile
- 82nd
- Global rank
- #33
- Regional rank
- #2
- Viewing data for
Country profile
United Arab Emirates shows progressing readiness, with important strengths but continued gaps across the system. Its strongest results are in School Access and Gender Parity (96, 97th percentile) and Infrastructure (72, 91st percentile).
Uneven scores across dimensions show where readiness conditions are less aligned. High internet adoption enables broad participation in digital learning and innovation.
A large research workforce accelerates experimentation, technology adoption, and applied innovation. Policy and regulatory teams coordinate effectively, keeping reforms aligned and providing the stability needed for long-term educational planning. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.
Regionally, United Arab Emirates leads most clearly in School Access and Gender Parity, sitting well above the peer average.
Areas with room to grow: Human Capital (56, 67th percentile). These dimensions sit close to global norms and could accelerate quickly with targeted investment.
Key insights
Sits above the global median at the 82nd percentile.
Places 33rd worldwide.
Holds a regional position of 2nd within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan.
Scores range from Access & Parity (96.5) to Human Capital (55.7), reflecting variation across dimensions.
Leads regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.
Regional peers: Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Composite GEFRI Score
| Global rank | Regional rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | Israel | 74.74 |
| 33 | 2 | United Arab Emirates | 69.85 |
| 39 | 3 | Malta | 64.27 |
| 41 | 4 | Saudi Arabia | 63.88 |
| 53 | 5 | Qatar | 60.47 |
| 57 | 6 | Jordan | 58.77 |
| 62 | 7 | Bahrain | 58.20 |
| 64 | 8 | Oman | 57.74 |
| 79 | 9 | Morocco | 53.94 |
| 82 | 10 | Kuwait | 53.39 |
| 94 | 11 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 49.54 |
| 96 | 12 | Tunisia | 49.30 |
| 103 | 13 | West Bank and GazaFCS | 46.28 |
| 104 | 14 | Iran, Islamic Rep.FCS | 46.15 |
| 111 | 15 | Algeria | 40.96 |
| 116 | 16 | Djibouti | 39.22 |
| 122 | 17 | LebanonFCS | 36.21 |
| 129 | 18 | IraqFCS | 34.23 |
| 130 | 19 | LibyaFCS | 33.89 |
| 149 | 20 | Syrian Arab RepublicFCS | 27.35 |
| 152 | 21 | Yemen, Rep.FCS | 25.83 |