Indian curriculum schools set to expand in UAE: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is on a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates to deepen educational partnerships and promote innovation-driven collaboration between the two nations. During his meetings with senior UAE officials, Pradhan discussed ways to enhance academic cooperation, emphasising the importance of joint efforts to raise educational standards and foster innovation across institutions.

As a key highlight of the visit, the Minister inaugurated BTech and PhD programmes in Chemical Engineering and Energy & Sustainability at the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus. He expressed confidence that these programmes would empower students to make meaningful contributions to global development. The newly launched courses are expected to attract a diverse pool of talent, strengthening the campus’s reputation as a hub for academic excellence and advanced research.

In his meeting with Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Pradhan also discussed the expansion of Indian curriculum-based schools in the UAE. This initiative aims to cater to the growing educational needs of the Indian diaspora while preserving and



promoting Indian cultural and educational values within the region.tural and educational values within the region.

A hallmark of Pradhan's visit was the inauguration of the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi. This facility is designed to support joint start-ups and research-driven ventures by Indian and UAE innovators, serving as a conduit to the Middle Eastern markets for Indian start-ups. The AIC is expected to be a cornerstone in cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation, offering a platform for burgeoning entrepreneurs to develop and enhance their ventures.

Pradhan spotlighted collaboration in areas such as deep tech, AI, clean energy, and healthcare, with IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi positioned as a beacon of research and knowledge. This partnership aims to tackle mutual challenges and foster advancements in these cutting-edge sectors, propelling technological progress and sustainable solutions.

The Education Minister held productive discussions with UAE leaders and institutional representatives to strengthen educational and innovation partnerships, paving the way for significant progress in both countries’ educational and technological sectors.