The United Arab Emirates has achieved leading results in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, securing the top rank among participating Arab nations in science, mathematics, and reading. According to the evaluation overseen by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UAE showed a significant upward trajectory, serving as one of only eight countries and economies out of 91 participants to register progress across all three core subjects.
Compared to the 2022 PISA results, the average performance of UAE students rose by 26 points in science to reach 458, by 21 points in mathematics to hit 453, and by 15 points in reading to register 433. This positive trend occurred during a period where average performance across OECD nations generally declined. The UAE's results also indicated a reduction in low-performing students alongside an increase in those achieving advanced performance levels.
Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE Minister of Education, attributed the progress to the collaborative dedication of educational institutions, teachers, and staff. She noted that these outcomes correspond directly with the nation's strategic focus on artificial intelligence and digital education, as well as the digital preparedness of schools and responsible AI usage.
In terms of digital readiness, 81.7 percent of UAE students reported learning to assess AI-generated information during classes, compared to the OECD average of 62.6 percent. Furthermore, 96.3 percent of students in the UAE are enrolled in schools that enforce subject-specific rules for digital device usage, which is notably higher than the OECD average of 71.2 percent.
At the local level, Dubai recorded the highest scores within the UAE, marking 506 points in science, 496 in mathematics, and 484 in reading. These scores surpassed the domestic averages by 48, 43, and 51 points respectively, and also exceeded the overall OECD averages.
The PISA 2025 assessment involved 34,639 students across 1,070 schools throughout the UAE. The results highlight the influence of continuous curriculum updates, investments in professional development for educational leaders and teachers, and the active collaboration between schools, families, and communities to support student achievement.
