The Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Dubai, organised by Informa Connect, returns for its 18th edition from November 11–13, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Sheikh Saeed Halls 1–3. For the first time, GESS Dubai will be co-located with Education Investment MENA, offering attendees an expanded perspective on education investments in the region. The event will focus on the GCC’s fastest-growing and most competitive education market, tackling the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI), the increasing emphasis on student and staff wellbeing, and the development of sustainable, immersive, and future-ready learning environments. 

According to the ISC Research GCC International Schools Intelligence Report 2024–25, the GCC is home to 1,783 international schools, educating over 1.8 million students and employing more than 139,000 staff. The region represents 23.8% of global international school enrolment and 19.3% of global staff, generating USD 14.2 billion in annual tuition fee income. The UAE leads with 654 schools and over 600,000 students, followed by Saudi Arabia with 521 schools and 580,000 students, Qatar with 202 schools, Kuwait 172, Oman 104, and Bahrain 130, illustrating the region’s density and growth potential. 

The GCC continues to see strong investment in campuses and facilities. Dubai plans 100 new private schools by 2033, with 10 inaugurated in 2024–25, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 supports dozens of new international and innovation schools across Riyadh, Jeddah, and NEOM. Qatar expands via public–private partnerships, and Oman and Bahrain attract global brands like Harrow and Gordonstoun. Flexible classrooms, digital infrastructure, science labs, and maker spaces are increasingly standard, reflecting ISC findings that over 70% of new schools are integrating future-ready facilities.