Starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, all private schools in the UAE will be required to teach Arabic, Islamic education, and social studies to kindergarten students, regardless of curriculum. The Ministry of Education says the move aims to strengthen national identity, language skills, and social understanding from an early age.
In a significant move to reinforce national identity and early education standards, the UAE Ministry of Education has announced that all private schools across the country will be required to teach Arabic language, Islamic education, and social studies to kindergarten students starting from the 2025–2026 academic year.
This decision applies regardless of the curriculum a private school follows—be it British, American, IB, or other systems. The initiative aims to provide a unified foundation for early learners, emphasizing language development, religious values, and social understanding from an early age.
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According to the Ministry, the mandate is designed to strengthen foundational skills in young children. It will focus on nurturing Arabic language proficiency, instilling Islamic values among Muslim students, and introducing basic social concepts related to UAE culture, geography, and community.
"This move supports the child’s holistic development while ensuring they grow up with a strong sense of national identity and belonging," the Ministry stated in a press release.
The Ministry outlined four core reasons behind the decision:
Reinforce foundational language skills among all learners.
Instill religious values and ethical understanding in Muslim children.
Promote early social learning through concepts of family, community, and national geography.
Ensure equal learning opportunities across the diverse student population in the UAE.
These objectives align with the UAE’s national strategy to preserve cultural identity and promote social cohesion through education.
The mandatory implementation will begin in the 2025–2026 academic year. For schools operating on an April-start academic calendar, the changes will be enforced from the 2026–2027 academic year.
To ensure smooth rollout, the Ministry confirmed that it will begin advisory visits to schools starting in 2025–2026. Formal inspection visits, conducted in partnership with local education authorities, will begin from 2026–2027.
In June 2025, the Ministry officially approved comprehensive guidelines for these new kindergarten requirements, providing clarity and consistency for all schools.
According to the published framework:
Arabic Language:
Taught daily to all kindergarten students.
200 minutes per week (approx. 40 minutes/day) initially.
By the 2027–2028 academic year, this will increase to 300 minutes per week (60 minutes/day).
Instruction to be led by qualified early childhood educators using approved materials.
Different instructional models will be used for native and non-native speakers.
Islamic Education:
Required for all Muslim students in kindergarten.
Taught for 90 minutes per week, either in three 30-minute sessions or two 45-minute sessions.
Social Studies:
Embedded into the daily curriculum.
Topics include family, UAE geography, environment, and basic social values.
Delivered through play-based learning methods suited to early childhood development.
To support schools, the Ministry will provide:
Instructional frameworks and clear learning outcomes for each subject.
Approved teaching models aligned with early childhood standards.
Tailored assessment methods appropriate for young children.
Special education strategies to include students of determination based on their individual needs.
The resources will be distributed before the 2025–2026 academic year, allowing schools sufficient time for planning and training.
One of the Ministry’s key goals is to guarantee access to the Arabic language for all students, regardless of nationality. With more than 200 nationalities residing in the UAE, the initiative is also a step toward social integration, ensuring every child gains exposure to the country’s cultural and linguistic heritage from the start of their education journey.
“Equity in education begins in the early years,” the Ministry stated, emphasizing the importance of linguistic and cultural unity in building mutual understanding within a multicultural society.
In a statement published on its official website, the Ministry confirmed that the new policy reflects its broader vision to embed national identity in education from the ground up. Through specialized programs in Arabic, Islamic education, and social studies, the initiative aims to support literacy, communication skills, and a deep connection to Emirati values.
By starting this at the kindergarten level, the government hopes to raise a generation that is not only academically strong but also culturally rooted and socially aware.
With this sweeping reform, the UAE is once again taking a proactive approach to shaping future generations. As the 2025–2026 academic year approaches, private schools across the country are gearing up to align with this vision—one that blends global educational standards with national values at the very first stage of formal learning.
