UAE Ministry of Education trains over 24,000 educators, school support staff ahead of 2026-2027 academic year

Dubai: More than 24,000 school leaders, teachers, advisors and support staff across the UAE are gearing up for the new academic year with a nationwide push to sharpen their skills in artificial intelligence, leadership and inclusive teaching, as the Ministry of Education (MoE) rolls out its Specialised Training Week from August 24 to 28.

The five-day initiative, delivered through more than 80 targeted programmes and hybrid workshops, is designed to align the UAE's teaching talent with global educational advancements while equipping educators with the latest methodologies and technologies, the ministry said on Sunday.

Sessions will be held both in person and remotely, allowing for flexible participation across the country.

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said the initiative reflects the Ministry's belief that continuous professional development underpins the modernisation of the UAE's education system.

"The Specialised Training Week serves as a strategic national platform to integrate artificial intelligence, foster institutional innovation and empower our educators to lead sustainable, world-class academic environments," she said.

Classroom-ready training

Al Amiri added that the programme has been mapped directly to the practical needs of educators on the ground. By centring peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and experiential learning, the Ministry aims to ensure the training translates into classroom excellence and improved student outcomes from the very start of the academic year.

This year's curriculum prioritises a wide range of high-impact areas, including AI integration in classrooms, inclusive education, academic and professional mentoring, school life quality, data-driven assessment, gifted student development, school safety, the sciences of learning, institutional excellence, leadership and innovation, and multi-level support models, among others.

Focus on school leaders

A dedicated pathway has been designed for 1,700 school leaders, comprising 500 principals and 1,200 vice principals.

Among the flagship offerings is the Leadership Competencies Lab, which centres on data-driven decision-making, the practical application of AI, and anchoring school culture in national identity and Emirati values.

From training to practice

The initiative bridges the gap between professional development and daily school operations through applied training, interactive labs and real-world case studies.

The Ministry said it aims to ensure that training outcomes are felt in school performance and educational quality from day one of the academic year by embedding professional learning into everyday school environments.

The ministry pointed out that the Specialised Training Week underscores its continued investment in human capital, amid a broader drive to build a resilient, future-ready and competitive education system for the UAE.