September 17, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: Dubai has just rolled out a new KHDA policy that makes Arabic mandatory in Dubai for young children in early childhood education. It’s part of a new education policy aimed at strengthening Arabic from the earliest years. For many parents, this new KHDA policy is both exciting and puzzling, as it is unclear what exactly will change, how it will be implemented, and what it means for children and schools.
In short, this new education policy requires all private schools and early childhood centres in Dubai to include Arabic language instruction from birth to six years. This is the most significant shift under the new KHDA policy in recent years. With the mandate that Arabic mandatory in Dubai for ages 4-6 from September 2025, and phases extending to younger ages later, families are asking: what does this mean in practice?
What the New Education Policy Actually Requires
Under the new KHDA policy, all early childhood centres and private schools in Dubai must follow guidelines for Arabic provision. The first phase is children aged 4-6 (starting in September 2025); later phases will extend to ages 3-4 and eventually from birth to three. KHDA has made Arabic mandatory in Dubai for the earliest phase to assess outcomes before full rollout.
Schools must allocate at least one-third of weekly instructional time to Arabic-based interactive activities. Structured teacher-led sessions must also occur (around 200-300 minutes per week) for children in the initial phase. Daily routines like playtime, meals, group tasks are expected to include Arabic usage. Teachers specialist in Arabic must meet qualification standards, and be registered in KHDA’s system.
Why This New KHDA Policy Was Introduced
The new education policy is part of Dubai’s broader Education 33 (E33) strategy, specifically the initiative called “Loughat Al Daad,” which seeks to reinforce the value of the Arabic language as a foundation of culture and identity. Making Arabic mandatory in Dubai from early years is meant to enrich children’s bilingual or multilingual skills, improve literacy, and cultivate a stronger connection to the UAE’s heritage.
KHDA sees early childhood as a critical period: language acquisition, especially in first languages and additional languages, shapes cognitive development, cultural understanding, and later academic success. Hence, the new KHDA policy requires professional development hours for Arabic teachers (20 hours annually) and structured assessments of the program’s effectiveness.
How Schools and Families Will Be Affected
With Arabic mandatory in Dubai under the new education policy, private schools and early childhood centres are working on adapting curricula, hiring or training qualified Arabic teachers, and integrating Arabic into daily routines. Some may need to adjust their existing models if they were offering limited Arabic instruction before.
For families, this means more Arabic exposure for young children. It might affect school choice, especially if a centre does not have strong Arabic teaching or doesn’t have enough staff certified under the KHDA requirements. Parents of non-Arabic native children may appreciate the support, while some might worry about overload or losing focus on other languages during early years. Understanding the new KHDA policy helps parents anticipate these changes.
What Parents Should Know Now
- Timing & Phases: Phase 1 (ages 4-6) is kicking in September 2025, for September academic-year schools. Schools following April intakes will begin accordingly in April 2026. Phases 2 and 3 are planned but will depend on evaluation of Phase 1’s outcomes.
- Teacher Qualifications: Only teachers meeting KHDA’s criteria can lead Arabic instruction under this new KHDA policy. Professional development will be required; teacher-child ratios and registration in KHDA’s system matter.
- Instruction Time & Models: At least one-third of the weekly classroom time must include Arabic-led, interactive, culturally rich activities. Different language model options exist (Arabic-first, bilingual, etc.) so schools have flexibility.
- Parental Role: Parents will be encouraged to support Arabic learning at home through reading, conversation, daily routines. The new education policy acknowledges that learning is a partnership.
Potential Challenges & Expected Benefits
Challenges might include: ensuring enough qualified Arabic teachers, especially for younger ages; balancing Arabic with other language demands (English, home language etc.); managing parents’ expectations (some non-Arabic speaking families may worry about progress in other subjects); logistic and administrative adjustments in schools.
Benefits likely include: stronger language foundation for all children; better cultural connection; improved bilingualism, cognitive benefits from early language exposure; more consistency across early childhood settings; pride in heritage. When a policy like Arabic mandatory in Dubai is implemented carefully, evidence from other bilingual settings shows children can thrive in more than one language.
How This New Education Policy Compares Regionally
Dubai isn’t alone in pushing early Arabic language education. Abu Dhabi’s education authority (ADEK), for example, has introduced requirements for Arabic instruction in nursery and kindergarten with hours per week, tailored tracks for native and non-native speakers. The new education policy in Dubai aligns with national trends seeking to elevate the status of Arabic language in early childhood settings.
Seeing how Dubai and Abu Dhabi investors in education (figuratively speaking, those who invest time, resources, and trust into schools and children) respond to the new KHDA policy can set the pace for quality. Parents, educators, and regulators all have roles.
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