UAE students go back to school as new AI era begins with unified calendar

Dubai: The morning rush in the UAE had a different kind of buzz today. From living rooms at homes to school gates, excitement filled the air as students across the UAE put on crisp uniforms, slung on new backpacks, and stepped into classrooms, not just for another academic year, but for the start of a new era in education.

For the first time, every public and private school in the country is following a unified calendar, a move that promises smoother planning for families across the country.

At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a distant concept but a classroom reality with more than a quarter of UAE students set to begin lessons in the AI curriculum, reshaping how children learn, teachers teach, and parents stay connected.

The scale of the return was immense with more than one million students expected to attend classes in staggered phases. More than 280,000 students, including over  25,000 newcomers, in public schools and hundreds of thousands more across Western-curriculum institutions began their academic year. For many Asian schools, it was the start of a new term after the summer holidays.

Students were given a warm welcome with sweets, chocolates and colourful decorations including 'Welcome Back to School' boards and balloons at several schools.

Some schools like Raha International School, Khalifa City Campus in Abu Dhabi, arranged special photo booth props for students and parents to take Back-to-School special photos.

On the roads, the UAE’s iconic yellow buses rolled out, carrying most students. Parents navigated drop-offs with a mix of relief and emotion, phones in hand to capture the first-day moment.

Many parents working with the federal government were allowed flexible working hours on the first day of the academic year to help with drop-offs and pick-ups.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) had instructed the federal ministries and entities to permit employees flexibility of three hours in arrival and departure times on the first day of school. For parents of nursery and kindergarten children, the guidance extended the three-hour flexibility for an entire week, giving families time to adjust to the new pick-up and drop-off routines.

As always after a long summer break, police officers were out in full force to ensure safety and support the school community and control the morning traffic.

Police have launched ‘A Day Without Accidents’ campaign across the country as pupils return to school. In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reminded motorists of the campaign with huge displays on the roads.

Dubai Police deployed 750 senior officers and police personnel, 250 patrols, drones, luxury cars and horse mounted units, and motorcycles to ensure student safety and promote wellbeing.

At Al Khaleej International School in Dubai, 16-year-old Amine Karray shared the same excitement felt by thousands of peers across the country.

“This is my first day. I am so excited to start my journey as a new IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) student. I am very excited to start this year and very happy to see again my friends, the new ones and the old ones,” said the Tunisian student.

At Yas American Academy in Abu Dhabi, Emirati children Mariam Al Mutawa, and her brother Khalifa, who came along with their mother, were excited to learn new things.

“I’m happy to be back and ready to learn more new things. I’m focusing on science and trying to improve in social studies. I want to keep getting medals in our football club and represent my school with pride,” said Mariam, a grade 3 student

At Hampton Heights International School, Dubai, 11-year-old Tinodiwa Makahamadze was “super excited.”

“I am super excited because this is the first day of school and I am looking forward to meeting my old friends and of course hoping to make new friends. I am equally excited to meet my old teachers also. This year, I am eager to take part in fun activities, join exciting school events, and go on field trips that will help me explore and learn new things outside the classroom,” said the Zimbabwean student.

Schools made elaborate efforts to welcome students back for the new term. Some have staggered starts and different timings during the first week of the new academic year.

 “Over summer, we listened to families, trained together, rehearsed first-week routines, and set up welcome hubs where questions meet smiles. Classrooms breathe light; books, uniforms and timetables are ready; buses have run their routes,” said Natalia Svetenok, principal, Woodlem British School, Ajman.

“We follow the UAE Unified MOE calendar, and in week one we finish at noon to give children a gentle landing,” she added.

Sarah Griffiths, principal, Yas American Academy in Abu Dhabi, said schools are focusing more than ever on innovation, technology integration, and sustainability in line with national priorities.

“We are aligning with these goals by emphasising artificial intelligence, Arabic language learning, cultural awareness, and student well-being as part of our holistic approach."

"This year, we are very excited to launch our new AI course, which equips students with future-ready skills in one of the world’s fastest-growing fields. Alongside this, we are strengthening our curriculum to place greater emphasis on digital literacy, critical thinking, and creativity. We are also expanding our extracurricular opportunities to ensure students develop not only academically but also socially, emotionally, and physically," she added.

Several schools also spruced up the campuses for the new academic year. "We are starting the year with record enrollment, which is absolutely fantastic," said Jan Stipek, principal, Raha International School, Gardens Campus in Abu Dhabi.

"We are looking forward to seeing our campus renovations come to life. We've got a renovated canteen, we've got a brand new DP student lounge, a refurbished library and more recreational areas with new surface and some shaded areas," he added.