Abu Dhabi unveils five-year Emiratisation plan to place 2,000 Emirati teachers in private schools
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has launched a policy aimed at increasing the number of Emirati teachers in the emirate’s private schools, targeting the recruitment of more than 2,000 national educators over the next five years.
Announced in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and the UAE Competitiveness Council’s Nafis programme, the initiative combines training, professional development, financial incentives and direct employment opportunities. It sets clear career pathways for Emirati citizens and links localisation targets to the actual needs of schools and commitments from educational institutions.
Strategic agreements secure hundreds of jobs
ADEK signed agreements with several major private education providers to transform the policy’s targets into concrete job placements. Taaleem committed to hiring more than 200 Emirati teachers, SABIS more than 150, GEMS Education more than 120, International Community Schools more than 77, and Liwa Education more than 61. Together these commitments will create hundreds of new positions for national talent.
The policy provides schools with access to qualified Emirati candidates who have undergone screening and evaluation processes, giving institutions the tools needed to meet their Emiratisation goals.
First phase targets key subjects, offers financial incentives
In its first phase, recruitment and employment will concentrate on the specialisations of social studies, Arabic language and Islamic education. This staged approach is intended to gradually integrate national talent into schools over the five-year period.
Under the Nafis-linked Teachers programme, participants who meet eligibility conditions can receive a monthly financial incentive of up to Dh4,000 throughout their training period. The programme includes two tracks – Teacher and Assistant Teacher – and aims to remove obstacles to entering the teaching profession while connecting national competencies with training and employment opportunities in private schools.
Training pathways for national talent
Qualified Emirati candidates can enrol in several specialised training initiatives. The Medad programme offers an introductory opportunity to learn about the teaching profession and explore its career paths. The ‘Be a Teacher’ programme provides promising talents with a path to obtain a postgraduate qualification in education.
ADEK developed the policy based on the Abu Dhabi Educators Competency Framework, created in cooperation with the Emirates College for Educational Development. The framework centres on six sets of values and competencies: Emirati national identity and respect for cultures; integrity and moral responsibility; humility, respect, empathy and community spirit; excellence and intellectual curiosity; lifelong learning, flexibility and innovation; and cooperation and collective responsibility.
The department noted that the policy operates as an integrated system linking regulatory policies, national talent development programmes, career-path support and employment commitments from educational institutions. It was developed in partnership with MOHRE and the UAE Competitiveness Council to attract and develop Emirati citizens through a range of specialised initiatives and programmes.
