Dharmendra Pradhan Meets ADEK Chief, Discusses Setting Up More Indian Curriculum-based Schools In UAE

NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan met Sara Musallam, Chairperson, ADEK, at the start of his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and both the sides engaged in fruitful exchanges on mutual educational priorities.

Pradhan thanked Sara Musallam and ADEK for all the cooperation extended in establishing IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Campus and also for the support being extended to Indian curricula schools in the UAE.

Pradhan shared the success of Atal Tinkering Labs in fostering curiosity and creativity in schools across India and the plans of Indian schools in the UAE for implementing Atal Incubation Labs.

They also discussed expanding cooperation in education, including opening more Indian curriculum-based schools in the UAE to meet the educational needs of the Indian diaspora and facilitating two-way student exchanges right from the school level.

Took a tour of the vibrant campus of @iitdelhi Abu Dhabi. Also, interacted with students.

The state-of-the-art facilities and holistic learning environment enhances the academic journey and contributes to the home away from home experience for students. pic.twitter.com/vvH8Ig5RiN

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 10, 2025

Pradhan also visited the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus and described the campus as a beacon of knowledge and research and a lighthouse of the India-UAE knowledge partnership.

Pradhan inaugurated Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) on the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus, a first-ever AIC hosted in an Indian institution overseas. The AIC at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi will nurture joint start-ups and research-led ventures by both Indian and UAE innovators and also promote bilateral collaboration in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare and other sectors of mutual importance.

Pradhan also launched B.Tech and Ph.D programmes in Chemical Engineering and Energy & Sustainability at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi.

Later in the evening, he graced the first anniversary of the Dubai campus of Symbiosis University. The Minister congratulated them for their commendable efforts in expanding quality Indian higher education abroad and fostering academic excellence.

During his two-day visit, Pradhan will engage with key UAE leaders, ministers, policymakers, academicians, and representatives from Indian and UAE institutions to advance the partnership in education, innovation and knowledge exchange.