Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced plans to expand Indian curriculum schools in the United Arab Emirates, a move aimed at supporting the country’s vast Indian diaspora while preserving cultural and educational values abroad.

Pradhan, on a two-day official visit to the UAE, held high-level talks with senior Emirati officials to strengthen educational cooperation and foster innovation-driven collaboration. He underscored the need for joint initiatives to raise academic standards and harness emerging technologies for global impact.

In a significant milestone, the minister inaugurated BTech and PhD programmes in Chemical Engineering and Energy & Sustainability at the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus. He expressed confidence that the new offerings would position the institution as a global hub for advanced research, drawing diverse talent and equipping students to contribute to sustainable development worldwide.

During his meeting with Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Pradhan pushed for an expansion of Indian curriculum-based schools across the Emirates. The initiative, he said, would not only meet the growing demand from Indian families but also ensure that cultural and educational roots remain strong within the diaspora community.

Adding momentum to India-UAE innovation ties, Pradhan inaugurated the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi. The facility is designed to nurture joint start-ups, connect Indian entrepreneurs with Middle Eastern markets, and drive collaborative ventures in deep tech, AI, clean energy, and healthcare.

Positioning the Abu Dhabi campus as a “beacon of research and knowledge,” Pradhan stressed that such partnerships could shape solutions to shared challenges and accelerate technological progress. His discussions with UAE leaders and institutional heads, officials said, laid the foundation for a deeper, future-oriented educational and innovation alliance between the two nations.