Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) has unveiled a plan to bring 2,000 Emirati teachers into the emirate's private schools over the next five years, as part of a wider Emiratisation drive for the private education sector.
Under the policy, private schools with more than 50 employees must raise the proportion of Emirati staff by 1 per cent every six months, working towards an overall 10 per cent Emiratisation target by the end of 2026. New recruits will receive a monthly Dh4,000 training allowance and can enter the profession through two pathways — as teachers or teaching assistants — developed with the Emirates College for Advanced Education. The first phase will focus on social studies, Arabic and Islamic studies.
Several major school operators have already signed up. Taaleem has pledged to recruit more than 200 Emirati educators, Sabis more than 150, Gems Education more than 120, International Community Schools 77 positions and Liwa Education 61 positions. Aldar Education signed an agreement in May 2026 covering more than 300 opportunities.
The initiative is being run jointly with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis). Officials said about 190,000 Emiratis were employed across more than 32,000 private-sector companies as of July 2026, and described the teacher drive as a step toward giving Emirati educators a stronger presence in private-school classrooms.
The push comes as the UAE continues to expand Emiratisation requirements across private industries, with education seen as a sector where local representation has lagged despite its direct influence on how students learn their national curriculum, language and culture.