UNESCO has selected Sharjah as the first Arab city to pilot its Early Childhood Care and Education – Progress Assessment and Transformation Tool (ECCE-PATT), recognizing the emirate’s strong policies, governance, and quality early learning programs. This milestone builds on Sharjah’s hosting of the 2023 Regional Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in the Arab States, positioning it as a model for the region.
For education investors and edtech firms, Sharjah’s selection opens doors to partnerships in early childhood development, including curriculum tech, teacher training, and scalable assessment tools. The pilot will create a self-assessment profile of Sharjah’s sector, highlighting successes, gaps, and best practices to share across the Arab world — ideal for companies eyeing regional expansion.
Results will guide improvements in school readiness and lifelong learning, attracting global edupreneurs.
Upcoming Summit: Sharjah hosts a policy dialogue on February 14-15, 2026, at the Sharjah Education Academy, drawing UAE, Gulf, and Arab leaders.
Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi of Sharjah Private Education Authority called it a step toward international standards; UNESCO’s Dr. Borhene Chakroun praised Sharjah’s role in education transformation.
This puts Sharjah on the map for business opportunities in early education innovation.
