Dubai’s education authority is making a push to get entrepreneurship and real-world skills into classrooms, and they’re partnering with a nonprofit to make it happen. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority signed an agreement with INJAZ UAE, an organization that’s part of the global Junior Achievement network and focuses on getting young people ready for the working world. The goal is pretty straightforward: teach students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and job readiness before they graduate.
This partnership is tied directly to Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy, which is basically the government’s roadmap for revamping how education works in the emirate. Instead of just cramming academic content, the idea is to make sure students actually leave school with skills they can use—whether that’s starting a business, managing money, or knowing how to navigate a job interview.
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What Students Will Actually Learn
KHDA and INJAZ UAE plan to roll out experiential learning programs, which is education-speak for learning by doing rather than just sitting through lectures. Students will work on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, which sounds abstract but really just means teaching them how to spot opportunities, take calculated risks, and solve problems creatively. The programs will also cover financial basics—budgeting, saving, investing, the kind of stuff that most people wish they’d learned in school before getting smacked with real-world bills.
The partnership also brings in private sector participation, which makes sense if you’re trying to prepare students for actual jobs. Getting businesses involved means students can learn what employers are actually looking for, not just what educators think they should know.
Dr. Amna Almaazmi, who heads growth and human development at KHDA, put it pretty clearly: students need to graduate with more than just textbook knowledge. They need confidence, practical skills, and the right mindset to succeed in life and work. She thanked INJAZ UAE for bridging the gap between classroom learning and real opportunities, emphasizing that the partnership aims to produce leaders who can actually contribute to Dubai’s economy down the line.
Razan Bashiti, CEO of INJAZ UAE, said the organization’s mission is about empowering young people to turn their ideas into something real. By embedding entrepreneurship and career readiness into schools, students start connecting what they’re learning now with where they want to be in the future. The hope is that more kids will feel equipped to innovate and lead rather than just follow.
Students Are Already Making Things Happen
The agreement was signed at an event that brought together about 30 private schools in Dubai, along with student entrepreneurs who are already running projects. Aisha Miran, KHDA’s Director General, and Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, the newly appointed chair of INJAZ UAE, were there, along with school representatives and actual students who’ve built businesses through INJAZ programs.
One highlight was a presentation from students at Dubai National School in Al Twar. Their team won this year’s INJAZ UAE National Company Program competition with a project called “Raicom.” They’re now heading to regional finals later this month to represent the UAE. Other student teams also showcased their projects, and honestly, seeing what teenagers are capable of building when given the tools and support is pretty impressive.
There was also a panel discussion led by Naila Al Moosawi from Accenture, featuring educators, business leaders, and even a student who won INJAZ’s Company of the Year Award. The conversation centered on how to actually equip young people with the creativity and skills they’ll need in a future economy that’s going to look pretty different from today’s.
Why This Matters Beyond the Signing Ceremony
Dubai’s E33 Strategy is all about putting students at the center and preparing them for life beyond school. The city wants every learner to develop skills and opportunities that matter at every stage—from early childhood through higher education and into their careers. Partnerships like this one with INJAZ UAE are how those goals move from strategy documents into actual classroom experiences.
Whether it all works depends on execution. Programs that look great on paper can fall flat if teachers aren’t trained properly or if schools treat them as box-checking exercises. But if done right, getting entrepreneurship and financial literacy into schools could give Dubai students a real edge, especially in a city that prides itself on innovation and economic ambition.