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T he Gulf’s education sector is growing at an unprecedented pace. According to the 2025 Alpen Capital GCC Education Industry Report, total student enrolment across the region is expected to rise from 14 million in 2024 to 15.5 million by 2029. To meet this demand, the GCC will need to add more than 2,800 new schools in just five years, with private institutions carrying much of the load. But as schools break ground and investors flock to the sector, one pressing question remains who will staff these classrooms? A Sector Growing Faster Than Its Workforce While enrolments surge, the supply of qualified teachers is not keeping pace. The Alpen Capital report and supporting studies warn of a significant talent gap, particularly in specialist areas like STEM, mathematics, and bilingual instruction. Teacher shortages are already being felt in the UAE, where up to 30,000 new educators may be needed by 2030 to support both student growth and quality standards. Rising costs only add to the challenge. School operators face escalating expenses for teacher retention packages, real estate, and digital infrastructure, all while competing for top-tier talent to satisfy quality-conscious parents. "The greatest barrier to growth has been the high cost of real estate and construction-related challenges as the GCC expands," explains Poonam Bhojani, CEO of Innoventures Education. "There are also gaps between education outcomes and labour market needs, teacher shortages, and disparities in access to quality education across urban and rural areas."
“Solutions like Golden Visas and retraining initiatives are now essential to sustain growth.”
Government Steps and Creative Solutions Recognising the urgency, governments are introducing measures to expand the teacher pipeline K uwait is reinstating retired educators and recruiting civil engineering graduates to teach mathematics.
S audi Arabia has eased regulations, allowing expatriate dependents to work in education to widen the pool of available teachers. T he UAE has expanded its Golden Visa programme to include teaching professionals, with Ras Al Khaimah launching a dedicated residency pathway for private school educators.
These initiatives are critical as the region’s premium international schools expand rapidly, intensifying competition for highly qualified teachers.
Poonam Bhojani, CEO of Innoventures Education
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