Abu Dhabi Private Schools to Hire 2,000 Emirati Teachers in 5 Years

Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) said on 23 October 2026 that private schools in the emirate will take on 2,000 Emirati teachers over the next five years. The plan sits under a new Emiratisation Policy for Private Education, run with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Nafis programme and private school operators.

The goal is to move Emirati hiring in schools away from office and admin posts and into the classroom.

Which teaching jobs come first

Hiring will be phased in over the five years. The first wave focuses on three subjects:

• Social Studies
• Arabic
• Islamic Studies

More subjects are expected to follow as the programme grows.

Which school groups have committed jobs

Several large operators have already promised places for Emirati educators:

Aldar Education signed its agreement in May. Together these commitments already account for more than 900 of the 2,000 target.

Training for new teachers

Adek is building a training route with Emirates College of Advanced Education (ECAE). It combines specialist coursework, hands-on classroom practice and then placement in a private school.

There are two tracks: one for teachers and one for teaching assistants, each with its own entry qualification. The route is open to Emirati jobseekers and to people switching careers into education, as long as they meet the approved eligibility rules.

People on the Nafis programme can receive a monthly incentive of up to AED 4,000 while they train. No teaching salary figures have been published yet.

The bigger Emiratisation picture

The teacher plan supports the UAE-wide push to raise the share of citizens in skilled private-sector jobs. Firms with 50 or more staff must grow their Emirati headcount by 1% every six months, reaching 10% by the end of 2026. Figures released in July showed more than 190,000 Emiratis working at about 32,000 private companies.

For a look at wider hiring trends this year, see our report on UAE hiring rising 4% in Q3 2026.

How to apply

Adek has not yet opened a separate application page for this programme. Emiratis seeking private-sector work, including training incentives, can register on the official Nafis platform at nafis.gov.ae. Keep an eye on Adek and on the careers pages of the school groups named above for vacancy notices. You can also check our guide to UAE government job portals.

What it means for job seekers

• Emirati graduates in Arabic, Islamic Studies or social sciences are best placed for the first round.
• Career changers can use the ECAE route; the teaching assistant track may suit those without a degree in education.
• Register with Nafis early so your profile is ready when schools start recruiting.
• Expat teachers in these three subjects at Abu Dhabi private schools may see more competition for those posts over the next five years; no change has been announced for other subjects yet.