UAE Ranks First in Arab World in PISA 2025 Results
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has achieved remarkable progress in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, an international evaluation of key subjects overseen by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The UAE ranked first among Arab countries participating in PISA 2025 in science, mathematics, and reading.
Sarah Al Amiri’s Statement
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, attributed this achievement to the collective efforts of the UAE’s educational institutions, staff, and teachers in strengthening students’ skills in reading, science, and mathematics, preparing them for the future. She also highlighted students’ ambition and determination as key drivers of this global achievement.
Alignment with UAE Vision
Al Amiri noted that the results align with the UAE’s pioneering vision for AI and digital education, demonstrating the efficacy of advancements in the digital readiness of schools and the responsible use of technology and AI. She reaffirmed the UAE’s leadership in AI education and the continued development of education as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Improvement Across All Areas
UAE students improved in all three PISA areas:
- Science by 26 points to 458
- Mathematics by 21 to 453
- Reading by 15 to 433
Notably, amid an overall decline internationally, the UAE was one of just eight out of 91 participating countries and economies to improve in all three areas. The improvement was recorded across science, mathematics, and reading compared to PISA 2022 results when the average performance of OECD countries witnessed a decline in the same fields.
Progress and Reduced Low-Performing Students
The UAE’s progress also included fewer low-performing students and more reaching advanced performance levels. This improvement demonstrates the education system’s capacity to drive broad-based student achievement and sustain progress despite growing international challenges.
Impact of National Efforts
The UAE’s leading position among Arab countries participating in PISA 2025 reflects the impact of ongoing national efforts to strengthen the country’s education ecosystem. These efforts span curriculum development, improving teaching quality, empowering educational cadres, and advancing assessment policies and the national assessments system. Together, they enhance assessment quality and reliability while reinforcing evidence- and data-based educational decision-making.
Digital Readiness and AI Use
PISA 2025 highlighted the UAE’s strong digital readiness and emphasis on the responsible use of technology and AI. Some 81.7% of students noted that they learned to evaluate AI-generated information in class, well above the OECD average of 62.6%. Additionally, 96.3% of UAE students attend schools with subject-specific digital learning resources.
