Public schools across the UAE will introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a formal subject from the academic year 2025-2026.

Notably, the subject would be taught right from Kindergarten all the way through to Grade 12.

With this move, the UAE becomes one of the first countries in the world to embed AI education at every stage of a student’s learning journey.

This initiative by the Ministry of Education (MoE) that was announced on Sunday, marks a major shift toward preparing students for a tech-driven future.

Empowering tomorrow’s innovators

The new AI curriculum aims to give students the tools they need to understand and use AI in their daily lives, supporting the UAE’s broader mission to nurture future-ready talent.

To make this vision a reality, the programme is being developed in partnership with top tech and education institutions including Presight (a G42 company), AI71, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and the Emirates College for Advanced Education.

Together, they’re building a learning ecosystem where students evolve from passive users of technology into active creators and problem-solvers.

A future-focused vision

Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri emphasised that integrating AI across all school levels is a key step in modernising education. “This (initiative) supports a generation of young people who understand tech ethics and can create smart, locally relevant solutions to future challenges.”

“The integration of AI into classrooms reflects the UAE Government’s future-focused vision, reinforcing its global leadership in innovation- and tech-driven education and supporting its goal of building a knowledge-based society and a competitive digital economy led by skilled national talent,” she added.

A curriculum designed for a digital world

The AI curriculum covers seven core areas: foundational AI concepts, data and algorithms, software tools, ethical awareness, real-world applications, innovation and project design, and engagement with policy and community issues.

It equips students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for each academic level, ensuring all public school graduates are well-versed in AI fundamentals and able to apply them in everyday life.

Each stage of learning is thoughtfully designed to match students’ developmental levels:

• In kindergarten, AI is introduced through stories, visuals, and play.
• In early grades (Cycle 1), students will start to compare human and machine abilities and build digital thinking skills.
• In middle school (Cycle 2), they’ll dive deeper into AI design, bias in algorithms, and ethics.
• By high school (Cycle 3), students will be tackling real-world problems and learning advanced AI concepts like command engineering.

Learning without extra hours

What’s unique about this rollout is that the AI subject will be fully integrated into existing school schedules.

It will be delivered through the “Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation” subject — so there’s no need to adjust school hours or overload students.

The MoE will also provide teachers with detailed guides, hands-on activities, and adaptable lesson plans.