When the 2025-26 education year opens up, schools will be opening across the UAE, transforming with a view to producing a future-ready generation. A single national school calendar, AI as a compulsory subject, outdoor and multilingual programmes scale-up are some of the significant changes that will shape the activity of many students in the coming years of school education.
Unified Calendar of All Schools
This is the first time a unified academic calendar will be observed by all of the public and the private schools of the UAE. This step will harmonize holidays, exams and activities at the national level making life easy to families.
Parents will now have the opportunity of more easily synchronising school holidays, family holidays, and extra-curriculum activities whilst schools will have a more efficient management of resources and planning.
Expansion of Schools and Campuses
The year 2025 has been a success in terms of growth to the private education sector in Dubai:
- 16 new early childhood centres (ECCs).
- New schools.
- Three new international universities.
Collectively, they will provide 11,700 additional seats to cater to the ever-increasing need in the country to get quality education.
AI as Compulsory Subject
The most significant alteration is the requirement in the ministry of education that all schools (public) ought to have Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mandatory course, that is, from Kindergarten until Grade 12.
Other schools are also implementing lessons onAI in some year groups in their privately-owned schools
James Efford, the Principal at Dubai Schools Al Khawaneej stated that, AI will enable students to think critically, take ownership and responsibility, and innovate boldly. He described how AI will be incorporated in Computing, Science, and Design as well as being taught as a stand-alone subject.
Innovation in Facilities and Curriculum
Schools are also making great investments in infrastructures and modern facilities.
- The English College opened an Education Centre wtih the latest Robotics, Design Technology and Graphics spaces.
- A range of ISP schools welcomed back their students with sparkling new labs, classrooms, sports facilities and playgrounds, offering new environments where learning and play happen.
These facilities will ensure that all students in the school have access to the world-class resources and be served by new committed teachers.
Outdoor Learning Curriculum
Learning is also leaving the learning institution Combining the best of its primary school programme, GEMS Wellington Academy –Silicon Oasis has introduced an Outdoor Learning curriculum to the Year 7 students.
This programme would encourage students to interact with nature and adopt practical life skills, and practice teamwork, said Rebecca Lewis, Vice Principal. It is holistic and links science, geography, wellbeing, and the environment stewardship to out-of-door, project-based learning.
Multilingual and Industry-Linked Programmes
Cross-language learning, as well as real-life apprenticeship is also growing.
- GEMS Royal Dubai School has added the bilingual Arabic-English curriculum which is offered by the Ministry of Education in Early Years and Year 1.
- The secondary school learners will be exposed to the industry, whereby the learners who are in Year 8 will begin apprenticeships with Nikon to provide direct experience in film and photography.
We will strive to ensure that our youngest learners grow quickly in both English and Arabic, and older students are equipped with real world, industry linked opportunities, Jenny Evans, Vice Principal.
Broader Academic and Extracurricular Choices
Content is being added at schools right across the Emirates:
- Woodlem American School (Ajman) has introduced Grade 11 with Advanced Placement (AP) format courses, electives in areas like drama, debate, public speaking, web design and STEM projects and student-led clubs.
- The new programmes (AI and learning stations), choice-based learning activities and learning stations are also introduced to enable students to take greater control over their education and to learn leadership skills.
The additional content allows students to learn how these programs are applied in the real world, to be more creative, and to develop leadership skills.
Key Highlights for 2025–26
- Basing school life on Buddhist calendar in all schools of UAE
- AI became compulsory in public schools to be introduced in the private schools
- More than 1,700 seats have been added in the education sector in Dubai
- Steam Centres, laboratories and outdoor learning programmes
- Increasing multilingual education and apprenticeships
- Courses, electives, and student-led initiatives of a higher caliber
