Ras Al Khaimah prison education programme receives top international recognition.
Ras Al Khaimah: A prison education initiative in Ras Al Khaimah has received international recognition after being featured in a case study by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, highlighting it as a regional model for correctional education.
The Ras Al Khaimah Prison Program was included as part of the emirate’s contributions to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, with the study highlighting its efforts to promote inclusive education in correctional settings since its launch in 2011.
Implemented by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research in collaboration with the Ras Al Khaimah Correctional Facility, the programme provides inmates and correctional officers with access to educational resources and activities designed to support both learning and psychosocial wellbeing.
At the heart of the initiative is a multipurpose prison library containing more than 9,000 titles. The facility also includes dedicated spaces for individual reading and group engagement, along with a private room for psychological counselling and therapy sessions. A reading club and regular community activities further promote participation and personal development.
The programme offers a wide range of courses, including literacy in Arabic and English, small business and office management, information and communications technology (ICT), art, mental health first aid, and life skills.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning case study, these efforts are part of Ras Al Khaimah’s broader shift toward rehabilitative, learning-focused correctional practices.
“In Ras Al Khaimah, we believe every member of our community has the right to learn, grow, and improve themselves, regardless of their circumstances,” said Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Al Qasimi Foundation. “The prison programme creates learning opportunities that are practical, purposeful, and responsive to the realities people face during and after incarceration.”
Data cited in the study, provided by the Foundation, shows that nearly 25 per cent of the inmate population has used the prison library since it was established, with inmates and correctional staff adjusting their daily routines to make use of the facility.
The report also notes that more than 1,000 inmates have participated in at least one educational course. Survey feedback highlighted in the study points to a renewed sense of hope among participants, along with clearer pathways for reintegration into society. The case study also emphasises the programme’s lasting impact on rehabilitation and personal growth.
Since joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022, Ras Al Khaimah has documented lifelong learning initiatives across formal, non-formal, and informal settings, including correctional institutions. Within this framework, prison education is seen as a key part of the emirate’s wider commitment to inclusive education, human rights, and equal access to learning, supporting its vision of making high-quality educational opportunities available to all members of the community.
The full UNESCO case study is available through the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning website.
