Share of government spending on education in the GCC by country 2023

Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council vary significantly in size, population, and available budget. In 2023, three of the six GCC countries budgeted more than 15 percent of state expenditure on education. The remaining three budgeted between 9 and 11.5 percent each.

GCC investment in education

Investment in education has become a key priority for GCC countries in recent years. Countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates even have campuses of American universities like Northwestern, NYU, and Michigan State. In 2021, all countries in the council saw an increase in the share of student enrollment, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait recording only a marginal increase and the UAE topping the list with the biggest jump. Despite rising student enrollment, the average student-to-teacher ratio in the region remains low.

Budget expenditure in the GCC

Budget allocation for education comprised a significant share of the expenditure in most GCC countries. Saudi Arabia, which has the overwhelming share of schools in the GCC, dedicated the most significant portion of its budget to the education sector. Four out of the six countries spent a noticeably smaller portion of their expenditure on healthcare during the same period.