UAE mandates AI education for all students starting fall 2025

The UAE is leading a global educational shift by mandating AI learning across its school system starting fall 2025, a move designed to address classroom disengagement while preparing students for an AI-dominated future. This comprehensive curriculum overhaul will reach up to 400,000 students and represents one of the first national-level commitments to integrating artificial intelligence education from kindergarten through high school, positioning the UAE as a pioneer in technology-focused educational reform.

The big picture: The UAE will implement mandatory AI education in all public and some private schools starting in the next academic year, with approximately 20 lessons planned for each grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade.

• Students will progress from basic concepts like discussing robots in early grades to developing machine learning algorithms in high school, creating a developmental AI learning pathway.
• Two of the UAE’s largest AI firms, G42 and AI71, are actively developing educational products to support this new national curriculum.

Key curriculum components: Students will engage with AI through a comprehensive framework that includes designing their own AI systems, studying bias in algorithms, exploring ethical considerations, and practicing prompt engineering with real-world applications.

• The curriculum aims to develop both technical skills and critical thinking about AI’s societal implications, balancing practical knowledge with ethical awareness.
• Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri emphasized that the curriculum remains flexible and will undergo annual evaluation to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.

Why this matters: The initiative represents part of broader educational reforms that include using AI for personalized learning and improved administrative operations throughout the national education system.

• The comprehensive approach could serve as a model for other countries considering how to prepare students for an increasingly AI-driven global economy.
• By integrating AI education from kindergarten, the UAE is attempting to create a generation of AI-literate citizens who can navigate and innovate in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Addressing potential concerns: The education ministry has implemented safeguards regarding screen time and technology exposure, particularly for younger students.

• No student will be given a screen for learning until fifth grade (around age 10), addressing parental concerns about excessive technology use.
• The number of AI lessons has been intentionally limited to minimize additional computer use while still providing adequate AI education.

The motivation: Al Amiri pointed to student disengagement as a key driver behind the reforms, noting a disconnect between students’ personal interests and their classroom experiences.

• “When you spoke to them, they had a lot of information, a lot of interests, and a lot of aspirations. But when you see them in the classroom, there’s a glimmer or a sort of passion that’s not there,” she explained.
• The AI curriculum aims to reignite student engagement by connecting classroom learning to cutting-edge technology that shapes their future.