The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is the premier national education board in India that operates under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Established in 1929, CBSE is committed to providing a robust, holistic, and learner-centric education system that promotes excellence in every sphere of human endeavor. It affiliates over 31,000 schools across India and abroad, including institutions in the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and Africa. CBSE emphasizes skill-based, experiential, and competency-driven learning aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to nurture critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning among students while upholding the rich cultural ethos. The structure of CBSE is centralized and hierarchical, with its headquarters located in New Delhi, supported by regional offices across India and abroad. The Board is governed by a Chairperson, under the Ministry of Education, and comprises various units including Academic, Training, Examination, and Affiliation branches. It also has Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to support capacity-building and teacher trainings.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) marked a historic milestone by establishing its first-ever international Regional Office (RO) and Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to the UAE in February 2024, the office commenced operations on July 2, 2024, within the premises of the Consulate General of India in Dubai. This visionary initiative reflects the growing global footprint of Indian education and signifies CBSE’s commitment to strengthening institutional support for its affiliated schools overseas. The establishment of the Dubai RO and CoE was driven by the pressing need for localized governance, streamlined communication, and timely academic support for the rapidly growing network of CBSE-affiliated overseas schools. Earlier managed directly by CBSE headquarters in Delhi, these schools now benefit from region-specific services that better address their unique challenges and cultural context. The scope of the CBSE RO and CoE in Dubai is multifaceted. The RO undertakes key responsibilities such as overseeing examinations, implementing NEP 2020 reforms, strengthening school assessments, and facilitating academic and administrative coordination across affiliated schools. Simultaneously, the CoE focuses on capacity-building through continuous professional development, in-service teacher training, promoting pedagogical innovations, competency-based education, integration of art and sports in learning, and the introduction of global skill-oriented curricula. The initiative has already brought together school leaders and educators through orientation programmes, training of trainers, fostering collaboration and professional development. Looking ahead, the future of the CBSE RO and CoE in Dubai is both promising and pivotal. As a model of educational diplomacy and academic excellence, it is expected to evolve into a knowledge hub that continually empowers educators, enhances student learning outcomes, and deepens educational ties with other countries. This initiative also lays the foundation for further expanding India’s educational influence and ensuring quality education globally.