Overview of Education Spending in Arab Countries
The education sector in the Arab world is witnessing significant growth, with projections indicating that the total market value will reach $175 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2022 to 2027. This growth is largely driven by increased spending in both K-12 and higher education, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where the private education market alone is expected to reach $30.41 billion in 2024.
Leading Arab Countries in Education Investment
According to Al Jazeera, the following eight Arab countries are leading in education spending based on their 2024 budgets: 1. Saudi Arabia: Allocating $51.9 billion, which is 14.5% of its GDP. 2. Qatar: Investing $5.1 billion, making up 9.3% of its budget. 3. UAE: Spending $2.97 billion, which is 15.3% of total expenses. 4. Oman: Allocating $5.1 billion, representing 16.8% of its budget. 5. Kuwait: Investing $11 billion, which is 13.8% of its total expenditure. 6. Egypt: Allocating $20.1 billion, or 14.8% of its budget. 7. Morocco: Spending $7.4 billion, which is 11.6% of its total budget. 8. Algeria: Allocating $11.2 billion, representing 10.18% of its budget.
Top Arab Universities and Challenges in Education
In terms of higher education, the QS World University Rankings for 2025 highlighted the top Arab universities, with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia ranking first among Arab institutions at 101st globally. Other notable universities include Qatar University (122nd) and King Abdulaziz University (149th).
Despite these advancements, the education sector in the Arab region faces significant challenges, including wars and conflicts that have disrupted education for millions of children. According to UNICEF, approximately 15 million children are currently out of school in the Middle East and North Africa, with projections suggesting this number could rise by an additional 5 million by 2030. Furthermore, education systems often fail to align with labor market needs, contributing to high youth unemployment rates in the region.
