Abu Dhabi (TDI): The UAE Cabinet has approved a landmark policy to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a mandatory subject across all government schools from kindergarten through Grade 12, starting from the next academic year.
Announced by Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the decision is part of the country’s broader vision to prepare young generations for a rapidly evolving technological world.
Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement, “Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours.” He underlined the program’s goal to teach students both the technical foundations and ethical implications of AI.
Developed by the Ministry of Education, the comprehensive curriculum will cover major concepts such as algorithms, machine learning, data, applications, and the societal impacts of AI.
It also includes modules on data privacy, ethical considerations and algorithmic fairness. This policy Puts the UAE as an international leader in AI education.
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While nations like Singapore and the United Kingdom have integrated AI within select subjects or frameworks, few have implemented a countrywide mandatory AI curriculum spanning all educational levels.
The policy builds on the UAE’s longstanding educational reform strategy, which has evolved from traditional teaching models to modern, future-focused learning over recent decades.
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Experts argue the UAE’s structured, age-appropriate approach could serve as a model for other countries navigating AI integration in schools.
By embedding AI education from the earliest stages, the country aims to raise a generation equipped not only with technical skills but also with critical thinking about technology’s role in society.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
