The School of Coding & AI (SoC) has taken a massive step in its bid to announce itself on the global stage.
The United Kingdom-based artificial intelligence (AI) provider and coding education firm is moving ahead with plans to build a £3 million facility in Dubai. This move is a reflection of the Middle East’s digital ambitions and the international demand for advanced technical skills.
SoC is a respected industry-focused education provider in Britain and will open its first Middle East base in Dubai Media City. Its programmes will prepare people for careers in AI, computer science, and other digital innovation fields.
SoC Forges Ahead with Bold Middle East Plans
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the Midlands, SoC has grown in stature in the UK, recently opening a Birmingham campus in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton.
That facility has a great blend of traditional academic subjects, such as computer science and business management, with AI-powered learning tools, embedding new technologies in its curriculum.
Expanding into Dubai is a major step for the institution, strategically and geographically. They will upskill 2,000 people through flexible training, giving them a pathway into technical careers and specialised digital industries.
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade is supporting the initiative, providing market insight, trade support and strategic guidance to help the organisation make headway into the UAE’s competitive technology sector.
Chief executive and founder Manny Athwal believes this is an exciting next step in the journey to become a global player in AI and computer science education.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most aggressive investors in advanced digital infrastructure, having spent over $148 billion on AI development domestically and internationally since 2024.
The country is looking to wean itself off its reliance on hydrocarbons after decades and focus more on digital industries, generating a massive demand for skilled professionals.
Dubai’s reputation as a hub for tech and business has also made it attractive to international training providers. Media City, where the new campus is based, is already home to an ecosystem of media companies, technology firms, start-ups and creative agencies.
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Tech Opportunities Abound in the Middle East
SoC’s leadership believes the Gulf is a unique environment for developing world-class tech talents. They recently participated in a UK government-led trade mission to the UAE, connecting British education and tech providers with senior stakeholders in Dubai’s economic development and innovation ecosystem.
Athwal also paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, taking part in a parallel education investment initiative that shows the school views the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a key long-term growth market.
This calculated foray into Dubai has been in the pipeline for some time. SoC has been expanding gradually. Just last year, it unveiled a £2.5m advanced technology laboratory at its Birmingham campus.
This has facilities for game design, podcast production, in-house research and experimental AI applications, including interactive virtual avatars.
The company also refurbished its Wolverhampton headquarters as it gained national recognition, with Athwal hailed as one of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders.
UK officials view the expansion as an exercise that strengthens the educational and technological ties between Britain and the UAE.
The UK government has turned to international education exports as part of its overarching industrial strategy, pinpointing AI and digital skills as areas ripe for global partnership.
SoC’s Dubai campus reiterates the UK as a destination for top-notch technical education while supporting economic ties. The organisation’s programmes prepare participants with project-focused learning, exposing them to real-world challenges.
