Saif Al Ghurair Foundation and Cambridge launch collaboration on education and innovation strategy in UAE

The Saif Al Ghurair Foundation (SAGF) was established by the Saif Al Ghurair family office to advance quality education, foster innovation and build industry links in the UAE. As a philanthropic organisation, SAGF is committed to creating meaningful change across the nation and the wider region.

A bold strategy to support UAE Vision 2031

To establish a strong basis for large-scale social impact, SAGF will work with Cambridge to create its first five-year strategy. SAGF and Cambridge will ground the strategy in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We will focus on Goal 4: Quality Education, and Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. 

The new strategy will lay the foundation for initiatives that support the UAE’s national goals. At the heart of this is UAE Vision 2031, a ten-year roadmap aimed at doubling the country’s GDP, boosting innovation and advancing sustainability.
To help bring this vision to life, SAGF will contribute to a resilient and future-ready education and innovation system. They aim to equip people with the skills they need to thrive, grow the knowledge economy and create smart governance models that drive impactful and lasting education reform.

Key priorities include:

• Empowering young people.
• Promoting lifelong learning.
• Strengthening communities.
• Encouraging innovation across all sectors.

Together, these efforts aim to prepare future generations to lead with confidence in a rapidly changing world.

Building an integrated education, innovation and industry ecosystem

SAGF and Cambridge will work together to design a sustainable, evidence-driven strategy that bridges education, innovation and industry in the UAE. 

The project will lay the foundation for SAGF’s long-term vision and mission in several stages. We will map the current landscape and identify strategic opportunities to contribute with the most impact. Then, we will create programmes that expand access to high-quality learning, drive innovation and strengthen links to industry. The partnership will include:

• Deep research and stakeholder engagement to validate best practices, identify gaps and highlight opportunities.
• High-level strategy workshops.
• Working together to design a portfolio of flagship education programmes. We ensure initiatives are evidence-based, align them with SAGF’s values and tailor them to national needs.
• Developing a governance and implementation framework. We will focus on sustainability and long-term impact, including how SAGF measures results.

SAGF and Cambridge have already begun the first phase of work. We are mapping leading UAE-based education and innovation entities and engaging with government bodies, universities, schools, foundations and community empowerment organisations. Work on pilot programmes will start in 2026.