Higher-education enrolment across the Arab States has nearly tripled in 25 years to almost 15 million students, according to a new UNESCO regional report announced on November 3.
The UNESCO review covers systems and policies in 19 countries. Its launch is scheduled for November 4 in Doha at a regional meeting on the recognition of higher-education qualifications.
The region’s enrolment rate reached 37% in 2024. Women have enrolled and graduated at higher rates than men since 2007, and represent nearly half of regional science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates.
Growth has not removed differences in access. The report records an average of 25 students per academic staff member, compared with 18 globally, and calls for investment in teaching capacity and student support.
Arab States also host almost 600,000 international students. UNESCO identifies the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as major regional destinations, while recommending closer cooperation on qualifications and student mobility.
Archive illustration: flags outside UNESCO headquarters in Paris, April 2016, not the Doha meeting. Photo: Fred Romero, CC BY 2.0. Resized for display.
