February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Zayed University (ZU) is a federal public university in the UAE, established in 1998 and named after the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. With campuses in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, ZU was originally created to provide high-quality higher education primarily to Emirati women, though it has since expanded to admit male students as well. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across five colleges: Arts and Creative Enterprises, Business, Communication and Media Sciences, Education, and Natural and Health Sciences.

UAE Context

Zayed University was founded during a period of rapid expansion in the UAE’s higher-education sector, with the specific aim of preparing Emirati nationals for leadership roles in government and the private sector. Its curriculum is delivered in English and follows an outcomes-based learning model that emphasises critical thinking, teamwork, and digital literacy. ZU holds international accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and programme-specific accreditations in business and education. The university plays a particularly important role in the Emiratisation agenda by producing graduates who are prepared to enter the national workforce.

Key Data

Zayed University enrols thousands of students across its two campuses. Its colleges offer more than 40 degree programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, with plans for doctoral expansion. The Abu Dhabi campus occupies a modern facility in the Khalifa City district, while the Dubai campus is located in the Academic City cluster. ZU’s research output focuses on applied topics relevant to the UAE, including sustainability, public health, and educational innovation.

Vision 2031 Significance

As a national university dedicated to Emirati students, Zayed University is a direct instrument of the Emiratisation and human-capital development pillars of Vision 2031. It produces the educated workforce needed to staff government agencies and lead private-sector entities, supporting the broader goal of reducing dependence on expatriate labour in skilled professions.

  • Emiratisation — The workforce-nationalisation policy Zayed University supports.
  • UAEU — The UAE’s oldest federal university, complementing ZU’s mission.
  • Higher Colleges of Technology — The applied-education institution forming the third pillar of federal higher education.
  • NAFIS — The Emiratisation programme that helps place ZU graduates in the private sector.