Sandra Baroudi and Nadia Halabi on the growth and impact of Eduvate

Sandra Baroudi and Nadia Halabi are the Co-Founders of Eduvate, a UAE-based company that delivers certified training, coaching, and consultancy programs for both educators and corporate professionals. We sat down with the two Co-Founders to find out more about their ambitions, their journey and impact to date, and what’s next.

Eduvate is still a young institute, founded in 2022. What inspired you both to create it, and what gap were you aiming to fill in the UAE market?

Sandra: When we founded Eduvate, we saw a real gap between training that was theoretical and the needs of professionals in schools and companies. We wanted to create an institute that connects research with practice and delivers impactful, KHDA-certified programs that professionals can immediately apply.

Nadia: For us, it was also about accessibility. We designed Eduvate to be bilingual from day one – English and Arabic – so that our programs could reach the UAE’s diverse workforce without leaving anyone behind.

How is Eduvate helping prepare the UAE workforce with future skills?

Sandra: We align all our programs with UAE Vision 2031 and Centennial 2071, which prioritize leadership, innovation, and sustainability. That means focusing on skills like digital and AI literacy, adaptive leadership, emotional resilience, and strategic decision-making.

Nadia: We want to make sure teachers, employees, and leaders are not only upskilled but future-proofed – ready to respond to disruption and to lead confidently in fast-changing environments.

Eduvate emphasizes bilingual delivery. Why is this such a critical factor in training today?

Sandra: The UAE is a multicultural country. If training is only delivered in one language, you automatically exclude a portion of the workforce. By offering English and Arabic, we ensure inclusivity and higher impact.

Nadia: And it’s not just about translation – it’s about cultural relevance. Our bilingual trainers understand both contexts, which means the learning resonates more deeply.

Eduvate is fully licensed and certified by KHDA. How does that add value for your clients?

Sandra: KHDA certification means credibility and trust. Organizations know that when they partner with us, the training is recognized, high-quality, and accredited.

Nadia: It also means employees who complete our programs can add them to their professional development records with confidence.

You recently collaborated with Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation and Skyrize Partners for the NOMU Women program. Can you tell us more about that?

Nadia: NOMU Women is one of our proudest achievements. It’s a certified leadership program for women that combines psychometric testing, personalized workshops, and a structured evaluation process.

Sandra: The aim is to help women develop emotional, cognitive, innovation, and executive skills – four key areas that empower them to step into leadership roles. We’ve already seen incredible transformations in our participants.

Eduvate started in UAE but is now expanding regionally. What does that journey look like?

Sandra: From the beginning, we knew Eduvate’s model could scale. The demand for high-quality, bilingual, certified training is not just in UAE but across the GCC.

Nadia: We’ve already delivered programs in partnership with schools, corporates, and government entities outside the UAE. Our vision is to make Eduvate a regional hub for lifelong learning.

What makes Eduvate different from other training providers in the region?

Sandra: Three things: bilingual delivery, KHDA certification, and our ability to link research with real-world practice.

Nadia: And the personal touch – we’re boutique in size but ambitious in vision. We customize every program to the client’s context instead of offering generic content.

Can you share an example of Eduvate’s impact so far?

Nadia: Beyond NOMU Women, we’ve worked with corporates and schools to design customized well-being and leadership programs. One client shared how our training directly improved employee performance reviews within three months.

Sandra: For educators, we’ve provided strategies that improved both student outcomes and teacher well-being – two critical priorities in the UAE’s education sector.

How do you see the training and consultancy sector evolving in the next 5 years in the UAE?

Sandra: I see more focus on AI integration, data-driven learning, and continuous professional development. Lifelong learning will no longer be optional – it will be essential.

Nadia: And there will be greater demand for customized, bilingual, and accredited programs that balance local needs with global best practices.

Finally, what’s next for Eduvate?

Sandra: Scaling our impact. We’re exploring partnerships across the GCC and internationally to bring Eduvate’s model to new markets.

Nadia: And innovation – we’re investing in digital platforms and micro-credentials so learners can access training anytime, anywhere, without compromising on quality.