How the UAE inspires the world by harnessing artificial intelligence in schools and facilitating knowledge transfer?

The United Arab Emirates is taking pioneering steps toward building the School of the Future, where artificial intelligence (AI) plays a central role in transforming education and preparing a creative generation capable of meeting the challenges of the digital age.

From introducing advanced curricula in programming and data analysis at early stages to establishing AI and robotics labs in schools, the UAE places education at the heart of its national strategy for technological transformation.

This approach goes beyond students, empowering teachers with smart tools that enable them to design interactive content and monitor student performance through AI-powered real-time assessment systems. Virtual assistants also provide students with continuous academic support inside and outside the classroom.

Through national initiatives and innovative competitions such as the “AI Challenge,” the UAE emphasizes that innovation is not an option but a way of life, and that investing in knowledge is the path to future leadership.

The UAE’s experience in integrating AI into education is not only a local vision but also a global model of inspiration, demonstrating how to build smart education that balances technology with the human dimension.

Speaking to the media during a briefing held last Tuesday, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, affirmed that schools across the UAE are fully prepared to welcome nearly one million students for the new 2025–2026 academic year. She noted that teachers are receiving extensive training in artificial intelligence (AI), both as a subject of study and as a teaching tool, supported by a structured training framework for educators.

Al Amiri explained that teachers are being guided on how to integrate AI into their daily work, while also keeping pace with ongoing developments in the field. She emphasized that these innovative training mechanisms not only enhance the UAE’s education system but also serve as valuable lessons for educational models worldwide.

Al Amiri added: “Teachers are being trained in computing, and we have dedicated specialists in the field. As part of preparations for the new academic year, nine new schools will open across several educational zones, and comprehensive maintenance has been carried out on 465 schools to ensure their readiness and to provide students with a modern and safe learning environment.”

The new year will also see the enrollment of 25,345 new students across various grade levels, reflecting the growing demand for education.

The Minister highlighted that 830 new educators have been recruited across multiple disciplines, while 10 million copies of textbooks have been printed and distributed to schools ahead of the academic year to ensure availability from day one. In addition, the Ministry distributed 46,888 laptops to students, further advancing digital education and enhancing technological skills.

During the media briefing at the Zayed Education Complex in Dubai, the Ministry also announced that continuous assessment will be implemented for students in grades one through four, with a strong focus on tracking individual progress. This approach will allow teachers to provide more effective feedback and employ flexible teaching methods that strengthen critical thinking and analytical skills.

The Ministry stressed that this policy update aligns with its broader strategy to continuously develop the education sector, ensuring that UAE schools remain stimulating learning environments capable of addressing the needs of new generations and preparing them for the future.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), told Gulf News that the Centre is expanding the reach of its digital publications. He noted that strategic partnerships with leading platforms have successfully driven digital transformation and made knowledge more accessible to readers.

Dr Bin Tamim adds  "The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is advancing its ambitious plan to digitize its range of publications. The aim to offer new generations better access to knowledge and leverage modern technologies to convert its print books into digital formats that meet the needs of contemporary readers. 

He says  “The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre has been particularly keen to digitize its books, building on Abu Dhabi’s distinguished experience as the capital of the UAE. This provides various segments of the community with expanded reading opportunities through e-books alongside print books, thereby strengthening the Arabic language’s position in the digital age and ensuring its adaptability to contemporary developments.”…. 

Aligned with its strategic vision regarding the importance of digital transformation, the Center has digitized and produced in audio format hundreds of carefully selected titles— both original Arabic works and translations from world languages—spanning various fields of knowledge. 

To further advance its digital transformation efforts, the Centre provides comprehensive summaries of the most important books in modern digital and audio formats through the Wajeez Al Kutub project, which offers users a library containing hundreds of titles…… 

The book selection process follows precise criteria, including copyright clearance, content quality, and audience suitability . The project also support Emirati authors by digitizing publications from the Esdarat project and Qalam Creative Writing Programme…… 

In light of the notable shifts in reading patterns, the ALC has taken major steps to integrate modern technologies into its book digitization efforts, in order to keep pace with contemporary developments, and advance its objectives to strengthen the presence of the Arabic language on global platforms, expanding access to Arabic cultural content in the digital space.