Starting 2025, UAE students will get hands-on with AI — yes, even in kindergarten!
AI is officially going back to school in the UAE and your kids are the ones bringing it there.
In a move that’s as futuristic as it is forward-thinking, the UAE just announced that public school students will start learning about artificial intelligence as early as kindergarten.
Starting in the 2025–26 academic year, AI will become a core part of what kids study all the way through to grade 12.
The announcement came from none other than His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, who shared the news on Sunday.
His message? The future’s already here, and it’s time to make sure the next generation is ready for it.
Ministry of Education introduces AI curriculum in public schools starting from 2025-2026 academic year pic.twitter.com/PZEOicV7P1
— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) May 4, 2025
So, what does this mean for students?
First off, no extra classes or crammed schedules.
The AI curriculum will slot right into the existing subject called Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation.
According to Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, the UAE’s Minister of Education, the new material is designed to be “age-appropriate,” meaning even the youngest learners will be exploring AI in fun and engaging ways.
Here’s a taste of what’s coming:
- Kindergarteners will learn through stories, games, and colourful activities that introduce them to basic digital thinking.
- Cycle 1 students (think early primary years) will start comparing machines to humans and looking at simple AI applications.
- Cycle 2 ramps things up with real-world AI tools, learning how algorithms work, and discussions around bias and ethics.
- Cycle 3 (older students) will dive into engineering-level concepts and real-life AI problem solving—preparing them for university or straight into AI-driven careers.
What’s the big picture?
This isn’t just about coding or robots. The curriculum covers everything from data and algorithms to ethical responsibility, innovation, and even AI policies.
The goal is to create not just tech-savvy kids, but thoughtful, informed digital citizens who understand the world AI is shaping.
As part of the UAE’s long-term plans to prepare future generations for a different future, a new world, and advanced skills, the UAE government today approved the final curriculum to introduce “Artificial Intelligence” as a subject across all stages of government education in the…
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 4, 2025
Teachers won’t be left hanging, either. They’ll have full access to Ministry-approved lesson plans, hands-on activities, and customisable classroom tools to help bring the subject to life.
As Sheikh Mohammed summed it up: “Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours.” With this new AI curriculum, the UAE is doing just that, giving kids the tools they need to thrive in a future that’s already knocking at the door.
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