With a resilient economy as its foundation, the Gulf region and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, is embarking on an education strategy that promises to transform the current educational landscape within the region.

Striving to deliver global academic standards from within, the GCC governments are making huge headway throughout the region in the design and implementation of enhanced and superior educational facilities. Giving particular focus to K12 and onwards, they are developing an academic infrastructure that will educate and strengthen future workforces. A key objective for each country is investing in and retaining domestic talent.

Traditionally large investors in overseas education, aspiring Gulf academics have traditionally sought their education and knowledge providers worldwide. In providing high-calibre campuses and institutions at home, educational spend will also be harnessed, and an opportunity to target students from neighbouring countries will be created.

The Gulf Education Conference & Exhibition 2012 will act as a showcase demonstrating the Gulf countries' commitment and investment policies to an extensive, well-targeted global audience.

With support from the Gulf Cooperation Council, this event has been designed for international organisations that recognise the importance of global strategies for educational development in partnership with the GCC member countries. All Gulf Country Education Ministers are invited to attend, as are Deans, Vice Chancellors, and Professors to discuss potential collaboration through research partnerships and other channels. Counterpart delegates appointed by the British Council and Europe are expected.

In line with the multilateral commitment to education of all the GCC countries, and in response to the overwhelming feedback from our attendees, we have taken the decision to broaden this event, in its second year, to encompass all GCC countries.