UAE to Introduce AI as core subject in new school year

UAE's Education Ministry has announced the official integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the national curriculum for public schools, spanning from kindergarten to Grade 12, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), this initiative aims to equip students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to understand and apply AI in their daily lives. The move aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to prepare youth for a rapidly changing world, foster innovation, and position the country as a global leader in AI and digital transformation.

The comprehensive AI curriculum — one of the first of its kind globally — is being developed in collaboration with Presight (a G42 company), AI71, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and Emirates College for Advanced Education. The initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to building a future-ready education system that supports sustainable national development and investment in human capital.

“Introducing AI across all public school levels is a strategic step that modernizes teaching tools and supports a generation of young people who understand tech ethics and can create smart, locally relevant solutions to future challenges,” said Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri.

“The integration of AI into classrooms reflects the UAE Government’s future-focused vision, reinforcing its global leadership in innovation- and tech-driven education and supporting its goal of building a knowledge-based society and a competitive digital economy led by skilled national talent,” she said.

The AI curriculum is structured around seven key pillars: foundational concepts, data and algorithms, software use, ethical awareness, real-world applications, innovation and project design, and policy and community engagement.

The content is designed to be age-appropriate and will progressively build students’ competencies from early childhood to high school.

At the kindergarten level, children will be introduced to AI concepts through visual and interactive play-based learning.

In Cycle 1, students will explore differences between machines and humans and begin to develop digital thinking skills. Cycle 2 will delve into AI system design, algorithmic bias, and responsible technology use. By Cycle 3, students will engage in advanced learning, including command engineering and simulated real-world scenarios to prepare them for university and future careers.

The ministry noted that the curriculum will be incorporated into existing school timetables without requiring additional teaching hours. It will be delivered by specially designated teachers as part of the Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation subject.

To support the rollout, the ministry will provide detailed teaching guides, adaptable lesson plans, and activity models to ensure effective classroom implementation across diverse learning environments.