The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will introduce artificial intelligence as a mandatory subject across all government schools starting the next academic year. The decision makes the UAE one of the first countries globally to embed AI instruction throughout the entire K–12 education system.
The initiative was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In a statement shared on social media, Sheikh Mohammed said the aim is to equip children with the technical and ethical skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The AI curriculum will begin at the kindergarten level and extend through to Grade 12. It has been designed by the Ministry of Education to balance technical knowledge with ethical understanding, covering concepts such as data, algorithms, real-world applications, and risks. This move is part of the UAE’s broader push to build a future-ready workforce and ensure long-term national competitiveness in a fast-evolving global economy.
By introducing AI education early, the UAE seeks to foster technological fluency and critical thinking in its youth. The country views this as essential preparation for the economic and societal shifts expected over the coming decades.
Arabic AI model launch reflects broader regional ambitions
The announcement coincides with the launch of a new Arabic language AI model, Falcon Arabic, developed by Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). The model was designed to reflect the linguistic diversity of the Arab world using high-quality native Arabic datasets, rather than translated material.
Falcon Arabic is part of the UAE’s ongoing investment in artificial intelligence, with billions of dollars committed to AI development. According to ATRC, the model matches the performance of others up to ten times its size, highlighting efficiency over scale. The council also launched Falcon H1, a model it claims can outperform offerings from companies like Meta and Alibaba by lowering the barriers to entry for advanced AI deployment.
Also read: UAE Plans One of World’s Largest AI Campuses
These developments follow recent high-level discussions between the UAE and the United States. During a recent visit, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a bilateral agreement would allow the UAE access to advanced AI semiconductors from American firms—a significant milestone in the Gulf state’s AI strategy.
Regional AI momentum builds in the Gulf
The UAE’s moves come amid a broader surge of AI activity across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia recently launched a new entity focused on managing AI technologies and infrastructure. It also aims to develop a multimodal Arabic large language model, positioning the kingdom as a regional AI powerhouse.
Together, these developments mark a growing competition within the region to lead in artificial intelligence innovation and application. Education, language modelling, and infrastructure development are becoming central to these national strategies.
