Duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Duration of compulsory education was 12 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
12
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
33rd
of 205 countries
All-time high
12
in 2012
All-time low
6
in 1999
Years of data
27
1999–2025
Duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates, 1999–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates stood at 12. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates peaked at 12 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6, in 1999.
United Arab Emirates ranks 33rd of 205 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6 | — |
| 2000 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12 | +100.0% |
| 2013 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12 | +0.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11, 1.1× the median. (77 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 12 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 2000s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8 | 6 | 12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 33 Anguilla 12 compare
- 33 Armenia 12 compare
- 33 Bahamas 12 compare
- 33 British Virgin Islands 12 compare
- 33 Bulgaria 12 compare
- 33 Cayman Islands 12 compare
- 33 Chile 12 compare
- 33 Colombia 12 compare
- 33 Cook Islands 12 compare
- 33 Dominica 12 compare
- 33 Egypt 12 compare
- 33 Finland 12 compare
- 33 Grenada 12 compare
- 33 Honduras 12 compare
- 33 Italy 12 compare
- 33 Kenya 12 compare
- 33 Luxembourg 12 compare
- 33 Maldives 12 compare
- 33 Mauritius 12 compare
- 33 Mongolia 12 compare
- 33 Montserrat 12 compare
- 33 North Korea 12 compare
- 33 Pakistan 12 compare
- 33 Palau 12 compare
- 33 Portugal 12 compare
- 33 Qatar 12 compare
- 33 Saint Kitts and Nevis 12 compare
- 33 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12 compare
- 33 Turkey 12 compare
- 33 Turkmenistan 12 compare
- 33 United States 12 compare
More education data for United Arab Emirates
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.88 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 100 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 106,178 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 305 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 119,159 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 125,307 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 894,302 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 586,477 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates?
- Duration of compulsory education in United Arab Emirates was 12 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest duration of compulsory education recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 12 in 2012.
- What is the lowest duration of compulsory education recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 in 1999.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for duration of compulsory education?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 33rd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is duration of compulsory education rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Duration of compulsory education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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