August 22, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: The UAE’s Ministry of Education (MoE) has set big changes for the UAE academic year 2025-26, cutting down tests, updating the Arabic and Islamic studies setup, and growing teacher training plans. All public schools start on Monday, August 25.
These updates will improve teaching, boost student health, and lift UAE’s place in world schooling. They have cut out big exams at year’s end, but schools can still give final tests. They’ll keep big exams in the first and third terms, but with new ways to grade.
Focus on Language, Faith, and New Ideas in UAE Academic Year 2025-26
In the UAE academic year 2025-26, the MoE will give more hours to Arabic and Islamic lessons, especially for young kids. First graders in 100 schools will try a new Arabic test to shape help programs. This shows the UAE’s focus on its culture and language skills.
The ministry is also bringing in a test for Arabic, English, and math for 4th to 11th graders. It starts with 26,000 students, with more to come. A Project-Based Learning plan is growing too, aiming to make kids think hard, be creative, and use what they learn.
Also, a new AI course will start here. Around 1,000 trained teachers will teach AI across all grades, readying students for smart, good use of new tech.
Strong Schools, Health Plans, and Teacher Growth
For the UAE academic year 2025-26, nine new schools will open, with room for over 25,000 kids. More than 800 new teachers will start, and 460 schools have been improved. They’ve got 5,500 buses, 10 million books, and 47,000 laptops set for a smooth start.
Health and sports are also key this year. A new program will push better living through sports, new PE classes, and healthy food at school.
Teacher training is better too, with over 23,000 teachers taking part in a week-long training, adding up to 170 hours across 40 workshops, plus 20 sessions for helpers. They will also check over 23,000 school pros to help their careers and lift teaching levels.
Sarah Al Amiri, the education boss, said: “The UAE academic year 2025-26 is a big step in our push to update education while keeping our cultural and language roots. By reducing big tests, growing project-based learning, and starting AI classes, we are readying students for a tough, new, and healthy future.”
A Smart Way to Learn
With fewer tests, lessons built for each kid, and a strong focus on key subjects, the UAE academic year 2025-26 shows a plan for an open, new look at education. Parents and kids should learn about the new test ways, join school start events, and use the new tools out everywhere.
The MoE will keep an eye on these new plans with a new group called the Educational Performance Monitoring Unit. This group will work with school heads to make sure the changes help students do better and feel good all year. Parents will get news often through online means, and students will be asked to give their thoughts on the new ways of testing and learning.
Also, the ministry aims to have big meetings where teachers, parents, and policymakers can talk about how things are going in the UAE academic year 2025-26 and look for more ways to make things better. By adding health, new ideas, and cultural lessons into a new way of learning, the UAE keeps its spot as a top place for making education better in the area.
The MoE will look at the first half year’s data to tweak plans, making sure each new step in the UAE academic year 2025-26 shows clear gains. It will also start campaigns to make parents more aware and set up ways to praise teachers to push involvement and cheer on success in this challenging time.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Visit Visa Guide 2025: Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Visa on Arrival
