UAE Back to School: President Welcomes Million Students Today

More than one million students returned to classrooms across UAE today, marking a major milestone for the 2025-26 academic year. UAE President Sheik Mohamed sent his best wishes to all students and urged families to cooperate with educational institutions to promote excellence and determination throughout their children’s academic experience.

Public schools are completely ready to welcome over 290,000 students for the new academic session, according to the Ministry of Education. The new educational year brings five major updates that will alter the map of education in UAE. Retailers nationwide have launched back to school promotions and special offers to help parents get school supplies for their children. These complete preparations show the nation’s steadfast dedication to quality education and student readiness for upcoming challenges.

President Sheik Mohamed welcomes students nationwide

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“Education remains the foundation of our nation’s continued advancement, and the UAE is committed to investing in our students as we work collectively towards shaping a better future for all.” — Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates

President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reached out to more than one million students through a special voice message that echoed through UAE schools as students returned to classrooms on Monday. The President warmly congratulated students, teachers, administrators, and parents as they began their new academic year.

“You are the future of our nation, and education is an essential element of the UAE’s developmental journey in the present and future,” Sheik Mohamed stated in his two-and-a-half minute message. He emphasized how students could become positive role models at schools and homes by showing respect to their teachers and parents.

The President highlighted the power of family-school partnerships. He noted that parents and teachers who work together create the perfect environment for students to excel. Students should use UAE’s rich heritage values as their moral compass in both digital and real-world interactions.

“Education remains the foundation of our nation’s continued advancement, and the UAE is committed to investing in our students as we work collectively towards shaping a better future for all,” Sheik Mohamed wrote in a post on X. He ended his message with best wishes for the academic year ahead.

Ministry of Education launches major academic reforms

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“Education should go beyond memorizing facts and figures, and instead inspire curiosity, ambition, and a passion for discovery.” — Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai

The UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced major changes to the education system for the 2025-2026 school year. These changes will transform student assessment methods across the country. The Ministry has done away with centralized second-semester exams for all grades. Schools will now handle their own assessments. The new grading system splits the academic year differently – 40% for first term, 20% for teacher assessments in second term, and 40% for third term.

A groundbreaking development brings the UAE’s first national AI curriculum to schools. More than 1,000 teachers have received special training to teach this subject. Younger students will learn about AI every two weeks. The focus will be on using technology responsibly and ethically.

Academic paths have been simplified into two main streams: ‘General’ and ‘Advanced’. These streams line up better with what universities want and what employers need. Students choosing the Advanced stream can prepare for careers in science and medicine. The General stream leads toward humanities and business administration.

The Educational Competency Assessment Project shows the UAE’s dedication to improving its teachers’ skills. Over 23,000 education professionals have completed 170 hours of specialized workshops. These changes demonstrate how the UAE continues to modernize its education system as students head back to school.

Schools implement phased return and infrastructure upgrades

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UAE’s educational system has reached a historic milestone with schools nationwide now following a unified academic calendar. This new system is part of the country’s back to school preparations. Students will return to classes gradually during the first week to make their transition smoother.

The new schedule for public schools varies across grade levels. Students from grades 5-12 will attend classes from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. Their schedule extends until 2:15 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while Friday classes run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. This schedule helps reduce traffic and prevents overcrowding in schools.

Education authorities have completed major upgrades to get ready for the new academic year. They opened nine new public schools in different emirates that can accommodate 25,000 students. The maintenance teams have also finished updating 460 existing schools.

The preparation’s scale shows impressive numbers. School authorities have deployed 5,500 busses and distributed over 10 million textbooks and 47,000 laptops to students. Many UAE employers support parents with flexible working hours on the first day of school.

Dubai’s private education sector continues to grow. The city added 10 new private schools for the 2024-25 academic year, creating room for 16,000 more students.

The UAE’s education system enters a new chapter as the 2025-26 academic year begins. Students received a heartfelt welcome from President Sheik Mohamed that showed the nation’s steadfast dedication to educational excellence. He stressed how families and schools must work together to help students succeed.

The Ministry of Education’s new reforms will alter the map of education completely. Schools now handle their own assessments instead of centralized exams. The UAE shows its innovative spirit through a national AI curriculum. Students can now choose between ‘General’ and ‘Advanced’ streams that better match university needs and job market requirements.

Strong infrastructure preparations prove the government’s commitment to create ideal learning spaces. Students will learn better in nine new public schools. Maintenance work covers 460 existing schools, and essential resources have reached all facilities. A well-laid-out academic calendar and step-by-step return plan make the back-to-school transition smooth.

Retailers offer great back-to-school deals while employers provide flexible work options. These helpful measures recognize each family’s vital role in their child’s education path.

Some challenges might pop up during the year. Yet authorities, schools, and families have laid strong groundwork for student success. These back-to-school initiatives show UAE’s complete vision for education. The country values both academic excellence and developing well-rounded students ready for tomorrow’s world.