United Arab Emirates

In its effort to achieve greater economic diversification, the United Arab Emirates is investing to build a knowledge-based economy. With an estimated 47% of work activities susceptible to automation, one of the country’s key challenges will be to ensure that its education system provides Emirati nationals with the skills required to compete in the private sector and grow the country's knowledge-based sectors.

Launched in November 2019, the United Arab Emirates' Skills Accelerator brought together the leading Emirati and international businesses active in the country under the coordination of the Ministry of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills. The accelerator focused on two main pillars: the creation of national and international platforms to highlight the skills gap and formulate new business models and practical tools to steer education and training in line with future changes; and collaboration between the government and private sectors, as well as civil society and education and training institutions to establish a comprehensive vision to close the skills gap in the country.