Dubai moves back to in-person teaching amid Iran war

Earlier this year, school and universities across the Gulf – including the UAE, Oman, and Qatar – were instructed to move leaning online as a precautionary measure after the region was hit by a wave of retaliatory strikes involving Iran, Israel, and the US.

But the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) revealed last week that private institutions in Dubai were taking the “confident step” of gradually moving back towards in-person teaching. It follows more than 200 early childhood centres resuming onsite learning from as early as April 16.

Her Excellency Aisha Miran, director general of KHDA, said that the regulator continued to work with stakeholders towards a “safe and confident return”.

“We are focused on ensuring every institution is fully prepared – from facilities to staff readiness – while maintaining continuity of learning for all students and meeting the evolving needs of families, in full alignment with all safety requirements and guidelines,” she added.

The UAE – and Dubai in particular – has become a hub for transnational education (TNE) in recent years, with several international branch campuses from major names in both K-12 and higher education operating in the emirate.

However, continuing tensions with the Iranian regime have left many international students in the Gulf feeling “worried and concerned” amid drone and missile strikes, postponed exams and internet outages.

Continuing instability due to the conflict has prompted questions about the region’s status as an international education hub – although StudyIn chief executive officer Rob Grimshaw acknowledged to The PIE News that while the market was experiencing a dip due to the war, he predicted that students would quickly “re-engage” once the war was over.

The UAE has become a stronghold for prestigious K-12 international schools, with Dubai in particular enjoying popularity with expats. The PIE understands that independent schools in London in particular saw a surge in interest as families from Dubai looked to relocate with their children in the wake of the conflict.

But Dino Varkey, group chief executive officer at GEMS Education, which has schools across the Emirates, maintained that there had been “consistent student attendance” across its portfolio during the conflict.

“From a total student base of over 150,000, we have observed only minimal fluctuation, around 0.5%, which suggests any movement is limited and likely temporary,” he said.

From a total student base of over 150,000, we have observed only minimal fluctuation, around 0.5%, which suggests any movement is limited and likely temporary
Dino Varkey, GEMS Education

Varkey added that the announcement confirming that UAE institutions would be going back to in-person learning marked “an important and positive milestone”.  

“We are focused on ensuring a smooth and well-managed return to physical classrooms, with student wellbeing and continuity of learning at the centre of our approach,” he said. “Supported by robust systems and experienced teams, we remain committed to providing a safe, stable, and high-quality education experience for all our students.”

Meanwhile, other countries in the the Gulf have also made steps towards resuming in-person learning. Qatar announced plans to gradually resume in-person learning at the end of March.

However, institutions in parts of Oman have maintained online learning protocols, although some parts of the country have returned to in-person learning.