UAE makes AI mandatory school subject across all grades

The UAE Cabinet has approved a landmark decision to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a mandatory subject across all government schools from kindergarten through Grade 12, starting in the upcoming academic year.

Announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, the curriculum is part of the country’s broader vision to prepare future generations for a rapidly evolving technological world.

“Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours,” Sheikh Mohammed stated on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the initiative’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 key concepts such as data, algorithms, machine learning, applications, and the societal impacts of AI.

It also includes modules on ethical considerations, data privacy, and algorithmic fairness.

This move positions the UAE as a global leader in AI education.

While countries like Singapore and the UK have integrated AI within select subjects or frameworks, few have implemented a nationwide, mandatory AI curriculum spanning all educational levels.

The initiative builds on the UAE’s longstanding educational reform strategy, which has evolved from traditional teaching models to modern, future-focused learning over recent decades.

Experts say the UAE’s structured, age-appropriate approach could serve as a model for other nations navigating AI integration in schools.

By embedding AI education from the earliest stages, the UAE aims to create a generation equipped not only with technical skills but also with critical thinking about technology’s role in society.