UAE–India cooperation study highlights education as key to future economic growth
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Education and human capital development are emerging as core areas in the next phase of strategic cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and India, according to a new study released by the UAE India Business Council – UAE Chapter (UIBC–UC).
The report, titled “Bridging Horizons: UAE–India Partnership and the Future of Education-led Development”, highlights the potential of combining India’s youth population, more than 600 million people under 25, with the UAE’s advanced education ecosystem, which includes over 70 international institutions and more than 33,000 students across Dubai’s knowledge and academic clusters managed by TECOM Group.
The study identifies the UAE as a leading platform for educational exchange and capacity building. Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC–UC, said human capital is “the true currency of the future economy”, adding that the partnership between the two countries has expanded from trade and investment to education, viewed as a key driver of sustainable development.
According to the findings, 69 percent of schools in India are government-run, but less than half of the country’s 247 million students attend them, indicating a need to improve quality and public confidence. The study suggests adopting the UAE’s outcome-based education models and expanding technology integration in teaching and vocational training.
It also proposes the creation of specialised education zones in India similar to Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City to attract global talent and promote knowledge exchange.
The report concludes that human capital development will be the most strategic field of cooperation over the next decade, supporting both the UAE’s Centennial 2071 Vision for a knowledge-driven economy and India’s goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2047.