UAE Schools Adopt Unified Calendar, Add AI to Curriculum
UAE schools are seeing major changes this year. A unified calendar, AI lessons, and outdoor learning are changing education nationwide as more than one million students headed back to classrooms this August. UAE has implemented a unified academic calendar for all public and private schools. This creates consistency across every educational institution. The historic shift impacts over 280,000 public school students. This includes more than 25,000 new students, among hundreds of thousands in Western-curriculum schools.
The Ministry of Education now requires Artificial Intelligence as a core subject in all public schools. This requirement spans from kindergarten through Grade 12 starting this academic year. This bold move puts UAE in line with world leaders in technology and advanced sciences education. Dubai’s private education sector continues to grow. It has added 16 new early childhood centers, six schools, and three international universities. These new facilities create over 11,700 new seats for students. Schools now focus on breakthroughs, technology integration, and sustainability to match national priorities. These complete changes show UAE education’s progress in the digital world.
UAE Implements Unified School Calendar Across All Institutions
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“The new school calendar marks a qualitative shift in managing the academic year, aligning with the Ministry’s national approach to achieving the goals of the ‘Year of Community’ by creating a more balanced and socially connected educational system.” — Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, UAE
The Ministry of Education has revealed a detailed restructuring of the academic calendar for UAE schools. This transformation marks one of the most important milestones in the nation’s education system. Public and private educational institutions will follow a well-laid-out schedule approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council from the 2025-2026 academic year.
What changes in the 2025–26 academic calendar?
Schools in all seven emirates will now operate on similar term dates and holiday periods. The new structure sets mandatory start and end dates for the academic year. This creates consistency that wasn’t there before. Private schools that don’t follow the government curriculum will have some flexibility. They must still follow the overall framework when they schedule mid-term breaks. These breaks cannot exceed five consecutive days.
How does the unified calendar benefit families and schools?
The standardized calendar brings great advantages to families with children in different educational systems. Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, called this change a “transformation” that strengthens family bonds and improves educational quality. School leaders point out that parents find it easier to plan holidays when their children attend different schools. The consistent schedule also helps community organizations, tourism entities, and cultural programs arrange their activities with school breaks. This creates better connections between education and society.
What are the new term dates and holiday durations?
The academic year starts on August 25, 2025, and ends on July 3, 2026 (July 2 for private schools in Sharjah). Students will enjoy a four-week winter break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026 – this is longer than before. Spring break runs from March 16 to 29, 2026. Classes start again on March 30 (March 23 for Sharjah private schools).
The calendar introduces three mid-term breaks: October 13-19, 2025 (first term); February 11-15, 2026 (second term); and May 25-31, 2026 (third term, which matches Eid Al Adha). These shorter breaks help reduce student stress and improve their wellbeing throughout the year.
Ministry Introduces AI Lessons from Kindergarten to Grade 12
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The UAE education system reached a remarkable milestone this academic year. Public schools now teach Artificial Intelligence as a formal subject. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, students from kindergarten through Grade 12 will learn AI. This makes UAE one of the first countries in the world to roll out such a detailed AI curriculum.
What does the AI curriculum include?
The AI curriculum covers seven core areas:
- Foundational AI concepts
- Data and algorithms
- Software applications
- Ethical awareness
- Real-life applications
- Innovation and project design
- Policies and community involvement
Students learn differently based on their age and development. Kindergarteners discover AI through stories, pictures, and games. Students in Cycle 1 (Grades 1-4) learn to compare what humans and machines can do while building digital thinking skills. Cycle 2 (Grades 5-8) students explore AI design, algorithmic bias, and ethical issues. Cycle 3 (Grades 9-12) students tackle real problems and advanced topics like prompt engineering.
How are teachers being trained to deliver AI education?
More than 1,000 specialized teachers now stand ready to teach this new subject. These teachers completed intensive summer training programs after their skills were assessed. They received detailed resources including activities, templates, and lesson plans they can adapt. Regular training sessions and follow-up meetings support their development. A dedicated committee watches over the program’s success in all government schools.
How is AI integrated across subjects beyond computing?
AI exists as a standalone subject within the “Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation” course. Students in first and second cycles attend AI classes every two weeks. Third cycle students have weekly classes. Schools didn’t need to change their schedules or add extra work. Students work on practical projects that help them use AI technologies safely, ethically, and responsibly.
What are the expected outcomes of early AI exposure?
Students will learn to use AI tools responsibly and ethically. Ethics makes up 25% of the curriculum to promote safe and responsible technology use. Students also develop digital literacy and future-ready skills in programming, problem-solving, and making breakthroughs. UAE’s early introduction of AI education builds local talent to support its vision of economic growth and technology leadership.
Schools Expand Outdoor Learning and Experiential Education
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UAE schools now include outdoor learning as part of their education system. They understand that learning beyond traditional classrooms promotes overall development. These programs help achieve academic goals and support student wellness.
What are the benefits of outdoor learning activities?
Students gain several advantages from outdoor education. Children show higher engagement and motivation as they learn new skills. Outdoor time improves their physical fitness, lowers stress levels, and helps them focus better when they return to class. Research shows students who learn outdoors score higher in math, language, and science. Nature provides excellent opportunities to develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and environmental awareness.
How are schools designing outdoor learning spaces?
UAE schools create effective outdoor areas despite the hot climate. They plan outdoor classes during cooler hours and set up shaded spots with water stations. Many schools have built special areas like water play zones, jungle gyms, and gardens. Research proves that adding plants, shade, green walls, and water features can lower temperatures by 5-25% in school outdoor spaces.
Which schools are leading in experiential learning models?
Sharjah British International School runs nature trails, conservation projects, and cultural trips. Arcadia School’s Key Stage 3 program leads to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, with camps in Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Turkey. Sunmarke School’s Forest School gives EYFS students hands-on activities that spark curiosity and creativity.
New Schools, Facilities, and Curricula Transform Learning Environments
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“Public and private schools must also define the academic year into three terms with a minimum of 182 teaching days per academic year, as set out by the Ministry of Education.” — Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, UAE
Dubai’s education sector continues to grow rapidly as new institutions prepare to open their doors for the 2025-26 academic year. These changes improve the curriculum and create more opportunities for students throughout the emirates.
How many new schools and ECCs opened this year?
The UAE has launched nine new public schools in emirates of all sizes that accommodate over 25,000 students with more than 800 newly recruited teachers. Dubai’s private education sector has welcomed six new schools, 16 early childhood centers (ECCs), and three prestigious international universities. These private institutions add over 11,700 school seats and create space for more than 2,400 new learners in early education.
What infrastructure upgrades are being introduced?
The Ministry has completed maintenance work at 465 existing schools to prepare facilities for the academic year. They have deployed 5,560 school busses for student transport. Students received 46,888 laptops to support digital learning and over 10 million textbooks. Sharjah has built new roads that span more than six kilometers to serve schools and educational complexes effectively.
How are bilingual and industry-linked programs evolving?
Bilingual education has become more popular through innovative multilingual approaches that encourage bilingualism and biliteracy. SISD’s bilingual programs give students opportunities to study subjects in different languages and earn bilingual IB qualifications. The education sector has deepened its commitment to industry through programs like the Smart Learning initiative that changes traditional classrooms to meet future economic needs. This program helps students develop 21st Century skills and increases learning efficiency.
The UAE education landscape has entered a new phase that brings several groundbreaking changes this academic year. A unified calendar marks a milestone achievement that creates harmony across educational institutions for the first time. This standardization helps families with children in different schools and enables better coordination between education and community activities.
Artificial Intelligence has become a mandatory subject from kindergarten through Grade 12, making UAE one of the global education pioneers. Students will develop vital skills in ethical AI use, programming, and problem-solving early in their education. The detailed curriculum prepares the next generation for a technology-driven future and builds a talent pipeline that matches national economic goals.
UAE schools embrace outdoor learning despite weather challenges. Research shows that time in outdoor environments improves student performance in various subjects while boosting physical fitness and lowering stress levels. Schools have designed practical outdoor spaces that accommodate the region’s weather conditions.
UAE’s dedication to excellence shows in its expanding educational facilities. New public and private schools, early childhood centers, and universities have substantially increased the system’s capacity. Students now learn in modern, well-equipped environments thanks to infrastructure upgrades and technology investments.
These developments showcase UAE’s forward-thinking approach to education. The country shapes global trends instead of following them through innovative policies and smart investments. UAE students are ready for success in an increasingly complex world through technology integration, unified scheduling, hands-on learning, and expanded facilities. These changes fulfill the nation’s vision of an education system that balances academic excellence with overall development and prepares students for future challenges.
