The UAE is set to usher in a transformative phase in its education system as the 2025–2026 academic year introduces artificial intelligence (AI) as a formal subject across all grades in public schools, alongside renewed efforts to reinforce national identity.
Beginning Monday, August 25, 2025, AI will be taught from kindergarten to grade 12, with nearly 1,000 trained teachers delivering the curriculum. The initiative aims to equip students with the skills to understand AI principles, explore real-world applications, and develop innovation-driven solutions, in line with the UAE’s vision of preparing future-ready generations.
The curriculum covers seven core areas: AI fundamentals, data and algorithms, software usage, ethical awareness, real-world applications, innovation and project design, and community engagement. It is tailored to different age groups, ensuring progressive knowledge building throughout students’ educational journey.
This step places the UAE among the world’s pioneering nations, embedding AI into mainstream school curricula, as several other countries also move toward integrating digital literacy and emerging technologies into classrooms.
Alongside AI, the new academic year also introduces mandatory teaching of Arabic, Islamic Education, and social concepts in kindergarten across private schools. The measure aims to instill national identity and values from an early age, ensuring children are rooted in their culture and heritage while developing essential language and community knowledge.
The Ministry of Education has also rolled out a new standardised proficiency test for grades 4 to 11 in public schools, covering Arabic, Mathematics, and English. The first phase of the testing programme will assess around 26,000 students, helping identify learning gaps and strengthen core competencies.
By combining technological literacy with a deepened sense of national identity, the UAE is reinforcing its commitment to building a progressive education system that balances innovation with cultural values.
–Input WAM
