The Middle East and Africa’s education technology and smart classroom market is estimated to grow to Dh26 billion ($7.1bn) by 2027 as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates the shift to digital education, according to a new report.
The widespread adoption of smartphones, interactive displays and other digital learning tools in classrooms are crucial drivers of this growth, the study by global market research company Report Linker found.
The 400-strong local and international contingent of EdTech companies participating at Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Dubai, an education conference and exhibition that will be held from November 14 to 16 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, aim to leverage this demand for digital learning.
“This is a strong confirmation that the education sector in this part of the world is showing great promise for the future,” said Matt Thompson, project director of Tarsus, organisers of the GESS portfolio of education exhibitions and conferences in the UAE, Turkey and Indonesia.
The EdTech industry played an integral role in ensuring the continuity of education when schools closed to contain the spread of the pandemic. Investment in EdTech companies globally surged to a record $36.3bn last year, from $18.6bn in 2019, said market research company Metaari.
Emerging markets attracted the lion’s share of investments in EdTech start-ups last year, with India surpassing the US in terms of capital allocated. Although only $30 million was invested in EdTech companies in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2020, the amount of investment is set to increase steadily from a low base, according to Dubai-based venture capital company Global Ventures.
The MEA region hosts a robust start-up ecosystem developing EdTech solutions that integrate technological innovation such as augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and blockchain to provide immersive and engaging teaching and learning experiences in classrooms or at home, Mr Thompson said, citing the Report Linker research.
"AR and VR are anticipated to be the largest revenue contributors to the education sector in the coming years as a large number of start-ups, receiving high venture capital funding, are entering this field," according to the study.
Canada-based robotics platform ezrobot, which is looking to expand its operations in the Middle East, is participating at GESS Dubai.
“We are excited to help educators learn how they can dramatically increase engagement in robotics, coding and AI education. Many schools that have implemented our strategies have seen enrolment in their robotics programmes increase by as much as 1,000 per cent,” said Dennis Kambeitz, chief executive of ezrobot.
Abu Dhabi-based EdTech business Alef Education, will showcase its AI-powered Alef Platform, which has been adopted by the UAE Ministry of Education for use in all public schools in the Emirates, at the exhibition.
“Digital learning tools will make education more accessible and prevent future learning losses as we embrace for future events that may disrupt the global education sector, much like the current Covid-19 pandemic,” said Geoffrey Alphonso, chief executive of Alef Education.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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