By : Wael Elgafary
Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Dubai 2026 will return to Dubai World Trade Centre from 10-12 November, bringing together education leaders, policymakers, educators, investors, innovators and suppliers at a time of significant growth and transformation across the region’s education sector.
From Early Years and K-12 to Higher Education, investment in new institutions, infrastructure, technology and learning environments is continuing across the GCC. Within the international schools market alone, the region is now home to 1,854 schools serving almost 1.9 million students, according to the latest ISC Research GCC International Schools Intelligence Report 2025-26.
The momentum is particularly evident in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Dubai’s Education Strategy E33 targets 100 new schools by 2033, while more than 20 applications for schools planned to open within the next two years are under review by the KHDA. In Saudi Arabia, 120 new schools were inaugurated through private-sector partnership models during 2025, according to the ISC report.
Sarah Palmer, Brand Director, GESS, said: “The GCC is becoming one of the most dynamic education markets globally, with the pace of investment and innovation creating real momentum across the sector.
With GESS Dubai this year, our aim is to bring the education community together to exchange ideas, challenge thinking and turn that momentum into meaningful progress. We want to create a space where the conversations, connections and solutions shaping the next chapter of education in the region can come to life.”
The scale of growth is creating new opportunities and new demands for education providers. International school enrolment across the GCC has increased by 12.9% since 2021-22, while the number of schools has grown by 10.6% over the same period. The UAE alone has 935 international schools serving more than 934,000 students, making it the GCC’s largest international-school market.
Addressing the priorities shaping education
As the sector expands, schools and education providers are also navigating rapid change, from the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and the recruitment, retention and development of educators to student and staff wellbeing, inclusion, sustainability, campus development and increasingly sophisticated procurement decisions.
AI will be a major area of discussion as schools move towards more structured approaches to its use across teaching, lesson planning, reporting, communication, personalised learning and school operations, while considering governance, data protection, academic integrity and age-appropriate access.
The shift is already underway. The ISC report finds that teachers across the region are using AI for lesson planning, parent communication, report writing and administrative tasks, while schools are increasingly looking for purpose-built education AI tools rather than general-purpose platforms.
“Teachers are being asked to manage increasingly complex classrooms, contributing to growing workloads and burnout,” said Phil Daneshyar, CEO of Chalkie AI. “AI has the potential to change that by giving teachers time back while enabling more personalised learning at scale. The opportunity is to give teachers the tools to adapt lessons around the needs of individual learners, while keeping educators in control and protecting student data and privacy. Ultimately, AI can help teachers get back to what they entered the profession to do: teach.”
Alongside technology, the programme will address leadership and workforce development, wellbeing and safeguarding, inclusion, sustainability, school design, and the evolving relationship between schools and education suppliers. The 2026 programme will span five key streams: Leaders in Education, GESS Talks Live Stage, Sustainability & Wellbeing, Early Years and EdTech in Action, Design and Build, alongside product showcases, workshops and CPD-accredited conference sessions.
The exhibition will also give visitors the opportunity to explore the latest products, technologies and solutions from international and regional education suppliers, gain practical insights from leading speakers across teaching, learning, leadership and school development, and connect with educators, school leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators from around the world.
“As education continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, bringing the education community together has never been more important. Collaboration among educators, leaders, policymakers and industry partners allows us to share best practices, address emerging challenges and collectively shape the future of learning. As we embrace new opportunities, our role is to ensure innovation remains purpose-driven, empowering every learner with the skills, values and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said Dr. Naira Hamdy, Principal, Emirates National Schools.
The 13th annual GESS Education Awards will take place on 11 November 2026 at The H Hotel Dubai. Featuring 30 categories, the awards will recognise outstanding achievements among suppliers, teachers, schools and education professionals.
GESS Dubai 2026 will take place at DWTC Sheikh Saeed Halls, from 10-12 November 2026, bringing the education community together for three days of discovery, professional development and connection.
