The Arthur D. Little analysis released on Tuesday placed the UAE at the forefront of early childhood education in the GCC with an approximately 82 percent pre-primary enrolment rate. This figure positions the country as the closest in the region to achieving near-universal participation levels. The consultancy’s viewpoint titled From Cradle to Classroom underscores how such high enrolment strengthens future human capital and supports greater workforce participation among parents.
According to the report, the GCC is home to roughly 2.6 million children aged three to five with enrolment rates varying significantly from the UAE’s level to 27 percent in Saudi Arabia and 36 percent in Oman. Arthur D. Little estimates that attaining a 95 percent kindergarten enrolment benchmark by 2035 would necessitate the construction of about 11,600 new kindergartens and the training of 116,000 additional educators across the bloc. The assessment found that 94 percent of this required expansion addresses current gaps in access and quality rather than projected population increases.
Amr Kazimi, principal at Arthur D. Little, said the UAE has established a strong position in early childhood participation, leading the GCC at approximately 82 percent. He noted that the next opportunity lies in extending provision further into the nursery years to build on this foundation. The principal added that this focus would help enhance quality while broadening access in the earliest stages of development.
A previous assessment by Alpen Capital indicated that the GCC’s pre-primary gross enrolment ratio had climbed to 42.3 percent in 2023 from 31.6 percent in 2018 with the UAE achieving a notably higher rate according to the same data. These figures reflect sustained policy reforms and increased private sector involvement in early learning initiatives throughout the region. The upward trend aligns with national visions that prioritize early childhood development as a cornerstone for long-term economic diversification and social advancement.
The Arthur D. Little report highlighted that Saudi Arabia would account for approximately three-quarters of the kindergarten expansion needed under the 95 percent scenario presenting substantial opportunities for capacity building and educator development in the kingdom. In contrast Qatar and Kuwait maintain more favorable educator-to-child ratios but retain scope to increase overall enrolment levels. Extending the ambition to include a 40 percent nursery enrolment target would scale the requirement to around 40,000 early childhood institutions and 224,000 educators across the GCC.
Data from international bodies such as UNESCO have consistently shown that high-quality early education correlates with improved outcomes in later academic performance and workforce readiness. The UAE’s leading position confirms that it leads GCC in preprimary enrolment at 82 percent serving as a reference point for neighboring states. Officials across the bloc continue to align education strategies with broader goals of building a knowledge-based economy through targeted investments.
