The United Arab Emirates as an International Education Hub: Assessing Progress Toward a Knowledge-Based Economy

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has progressed as an international education hub and assess the development of its innovation capability in alignment with its aim to transition into a knowledge-based economy. Specific developmental indicators derived from secondary data sources are used to assess the UAE's progress in terms of attracting international students and institutions, developing and retaining a skilled workforce, and building capacity to support research and innovation. The paper finds that the UAE has made modest progress in terms of developing its innovation capability, and that it currently lags behind other education hubs in international co-inventions, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and university-industry collaborations. Findings of this study indicate a need for the UAE to takes a more strategic approach to building international partnerships that are informed by its developmental needs, prioritizing both innovation capabilities and regional relevance.