Dubai schools are expected to receive new guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in education next year, as authorities work to balance the benefits of emerging technology with the need to protect children from excessive or inappropriate use.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which oversees private education in Dubai, is developing a framework intended to provide schools with clearer direction on when and how AI should be used to support student learning.
Although details of the proposed guidelines have not yet been fully disclosed, the framework is expected to address how schools can integrate AI into classrooms, what safeguards should be introduced and how parents can help guide children’s use of the technology.
KHDA Seeks Balanced Approach to AI in Classrooms
Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA, said the authority wants to establish clear guidance on the appropriate use of AI and digital technology in education.
“We want to have a very clear direction on the use of AI and technology,” Miran said, explaining that the aim is to identify when technology can strengthen learning and when students should exercise caution.
The authority is also reportedly considering when children should first be introduced to digital technology as part of their educational journey.
Rather than restricting technology altogether, KHDA intends to encourage responsible adoption while ensuring that its use supports students’ development and educational outcomes.
“We cannot abandon digital technology, we want to embrace it,” Miran said.
UAE Expands AI Training and Education Initiatives
The planned Dubai guidelines come as the UAE seeks to give artificial intelligence a more prominent role across its education system.
The UAE Cabinet introduced new measures last month aimed at expanding the use of AI in education. The country is also planning to train 22,000 teachers in AI, helping educators develop the skills needed to incorporate the technology into teaching and learning.
The wider push reflects the UAE’s ambition to prepare students and teachers for a future in which AI is expected to play an increasingly important role in work and everyday life.
Education 33 Strategy Focuses on Future Skills
Dubai’s Education 33 strategy, launched in October 2024, identifies future-ready skills, critical thinking and personalised learning as key priorities for the emirate’s education sector.
The strategy aims to strengthen educational outcomes and prepare students for changing academic and professional demands. AI could support these goals, but authorities are also seeking to ensure that technology is used in ways that encourage independent thinking and meaningful learning.
The new guidelines are expected to help schools navigate these considerations as AI tools become more common in classrooms.
KHDA Also Addresses School Traffic Congestion
Alongside its work on AI in education, KHDA has announced that schools will be allowed to adjust their start and finish times in an effort to ease traffic congestion across Dubai.
Flexible school schedules could help distribute traffic more evenly during peak commuting periods, although the impact will depend on how individual schools implement the changes.
Together, the initiatives reflect KHDA’s broader focus on improving the school experience while preparing students for a technology-driven future.
