The United Arab Emirates is breaking new ground in education with a nationwide rollout of its first-ever artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum across public schools. Slated for the 2025–26 academic year, this landmark initiative will see over 1,000 teachers trained to deliver AI lessons from kindergarten through Grade 12, touching nearly one million students across the country.
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the nation’s first nationally developed artificial intelligence curriculum in public schools, set to debut this fall in the 2025–2026 academic year. Over 1,000 specially trained teachers will deliver the program across all grade levels, aiming to impart essential AI skills to nearly one million students.
The curriculum spans from kindergarten to Grade 12, with younger students attending AI classes every two weeks and older students receiving weekly instruction. Notably, around 25% of the curriculum emphasizes AI ethics—equipping students to use AI responsibly and thoughtfully in various aspects of life.
Minister Sarah Al Amiri described it as far more than just coding—it’s about cultivating a generation capable of thinking critically about AI and harnessing it for social good.
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At its core, the AI curriculum introduces students to computing concepts and real-world AI applications—built around seven key modules:
Foundational AI concepts
Data and algorithms
Software tools and applications
Ethical awareness in AI
Innovation and project design
AI policies and societal engagement
Real-world problem solving through AI
By embedding AI into existing subjects like "Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation," the program avoids extending school hours, ensuring seamless integration into daily learning.
This initiative is the first of its kind across the Middle East, delivering a standardized AI education to students of all ages, irrespective of their emirate or school.
A substantial focus on AI ethics ensures that students grasp the societal and moral implications of AI, encouraging principled use of powerful technologies.
To support the rollout, the Ministry is opening new schools, recruiting hundreds of teachers, distributing thousands of laptops, and modernizing educational infrastructure nationwide.
With AI designated as a key pillar of the UAE’s 2071 Centennial vision, the initiative aligns with national ambitions toward innovation, education reform, and digital transformation.
For Students: Early familiarity with AI—from algorithmic thinking to ethical frameworks—will prepare learners for a rapidly evolving digital economy.
For Educators: Teachers are receiving training and resources to deliver engaging AI lessons, composed of practical tools, lesson templates, and hands-on activities.
For the UAE Workforce: By embedding AI into education, the UAE cultivates talent capable of driving innovation across sectors including healthcare, finance, energy, and logistics—propelling national competitiveness.
With AI literacy quickly becoming a prerequisite for modern careers, this curriculum ensures students possess a head start in future job markets.
This ambitious educational reform reflects the UAE’s broader strategic imperatives:
Innovation Leadership: It reinforces the UAE’s goal to become a regional—and global—AI hub through systemic educational reform.
Economic Diversification: By equipping youth with AI fluency, the nation accelerates its shift toward knowledge-based industries beyond oil.
Inclusive Education Ecosystem: Embedding AI from kindergarten through high school ensures equitable access to future-ready skills.
Global Benchmarking: As one of the first nations to implement AI at every school level, the UAE establishes itself as a pioneer in future-focused education.
The UAE’s rollout of its first national AI curriculum—empowering nearly one million students through grade-spanning instruction by over 1,000 trained teachers—is a transformative milestone in education. With a strong ethical foundation and comprehensive integration into existing school structures, this initiative is shaping the next generation to lead in an AI-driven world.
Through forward-looking policy, infrastructure investment, and a commitment to innovation, the UAE paves the way for a future where AI is not just learned—but understood, questioned, and used for societal advancement.
