GEMS Education has signed an agreement with Oracle to provide artificial intelligence and cloud computing training to more than 11,000 secondary students and alumni across the United Arab Emirates. The partnership makes GEMS the first private school network in the world to join Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, a programme previously reserved for university students and working professionals.
A Three-Year Programme With Clear Targets
The memorandum of understanding sets specific goals for the collaboration. At least 11,000 learners will participate in the programme over the next three years. Half of all participants are expected to achieve certification. Students and alumni will access Oracle’s online learning platform, Oracle MyLearn, at no cost.
The training covers foundations of AI and generative AI, cloud computing fundamentals, data platforms and analytics, cybersecurity, and enterprise applications. Learners can attempt certification exams multiple times for free and earn digital badges upon completion.
Industry Certifications for Secondary Students
Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education, said the future competitiveness of nations depends on their ability to develop digitally fluent talent. He noted that technology and AI are central to the UAE’s long-term vision, and education must support that ambition. Through the partnership with Oracle, GEMS is giving secondary students access to learning experiences and credentials that have traditionally been available only at a university or in the early stages of a professional career.
Leopoldo Boado Lama, Senior Vice President for Middle East and Africa at Oracle, said the UAE is setting a global benchmark for how nations prepare citizens for an AI-driven future. He added that bringing Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative into secondary education for the first time helps students gain technology skills and credentials valued by universities and employers worldwide.
A First for Oracle University’s Skills Initiative
Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative typically targets higher education students and working professionals looking to upskill or reskill. Extending the programme to a private school network represents a significant shift. It moves industry-grade learning experiences into secondary education, giving students a head start in building practical digital skills while still at school.
The collaboration shifts GEMS from general digital exposure to a structured upskilling model. The focus is on building foundational skills and empowering students to progress from awareness to capability to certification.
Part of a Wider Regional Push
The GEMS programme is part of a much larger commitment from Oracle. In January 2025, Oracle announced plans to train and certify 350,000 people across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Morocco and Jordan in cloud and AI technologies. The training is delivered through the same Oracle MyLearn platform now reaching GEMS students. Oracle has aligned that training target to its own cloud growth in the region, pointing to a Middle East AI economy expected to reach $320 billion by 2030.
Supporting the UAE’s National AI Strategy
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s wider ambitions to build a knowledge-based economy. The country introduced AI as an official subject in public schools starting with the 2025-2026 academic year. The curriculum integrates AI across all grade levels, from kindergarten through Grade 12.
The GEMS-Oracle partnership builds on this national effort by providing industry-recognised certifications that can strengthen university applications and future employment opportunities. By equipping students with practical AI and cloud skills before they leave school, the programme aims to build a future-ready talent pipeline that supports the UAE’s digital economy.
Long-Term Partnership With Room to Grow
The agreement is structured as a long-term, non-exclusive collaboration, leaving room for the partnership to expand further. Participants can take several certification exam attempts for free. Once successfully certified, learners will gain industry-recognised credentials that strengthen their university and career competitiveness.
For GEMS, which educates more than 200,000 students from over 176 nationalities across its global school network, this partnership represents a significant investment in preparing students for the AI-driven economy. For Oracle, extending the programme into secondary schools gives the company a younger entry point into the region’s talent pipeline, years before students would normally reach Oracle University.
