Trends, gaps and alignments in professional education in the United Arab Emirates: implications for strategic growth

This is an exploratory study that seeks to identify the trends in professional education and labour market demands and point out whether these synchronize with the objectives of the strategic plan of Dubai. The study is based on a survey of programs of accredited universities in the UAE and uses labour market trends published by the government of Dubai in its statistical yearbook for 2005. The study makes a pioneering attempt at reviewing the professional courses and has important implications for universities and colleges in development of courses to meet the demand of the labour market.