Educational leadership embodies the work of school administrators. Typical responsibilities often include curriculum and program planning, the creation of educational policies, support for teachers and guidance for the success of students. These professionals might be responsible to promote test score improvement or bring about educational reform.

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Much of the work force in the UAE are foreign expatriates - hence the country's population makeup being so diverse, with Emirati citizens being a minority in their own country.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.