How UAE’s New AI Curriculum & Its New Stamps Work

Key Highlights

• The UAE has become one of the first countries globally to introduce artificial intelligence as a mandatory subject across all school years, from kindergarten to Grade 12.
• The national postal service, Emirates Post, has released commemorative AI-themed stamps set to mark the rollout of the curriculum.
• The programme, approved by the UAE Cabinet, is designed to embed AI literacy, ethics, and applied problem-solving into the national education system.

UAE Marks Curriculum Rollout With Commemorative AI-Themed Stamps

The United Arab Emirates is signalling its long-term ambitions in artificial intelligence not through a white paper or policy speech, but through postage stamps.

The national postal service, Emirates Post, has issued a four-stamp commemorative collection marking the integration of artificial intelligence as a formal subject within the UAE’s school curriculum. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the release coincides with the nationwide rollout of AI education across government schools beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year.

The symbolism is deliberate. As AI moves from experimental technology to national infrastructure, the UAE is positioning digital literacy not as an elective skill, but as a civic baseline on par with mathematics, language, and science.

From Optional Coding to Mandatory AI Literacy

Under the new framework, artificial intelligence will be taught to students from kindergarten through Grade 12, covering roughly 300,000 students in government schools. The initiative places the UAE among a small group of countries globally to mandate AI education across every stage of schooling.

Unlike previous technology initiatives that focused on optional coding clubs or extracurricular programmes, the UAE’s approach embeds AI directly into the national curriculum. Students will learn age-appropriate concepts ranging from foundational AI principles and data literacy to algorithms, ethical awareness, and real-world applications.

Importantly, the curriculum does not add to students’ classroom hours. Instead, AI modules are integrated into the existing Computing, Creative Design and Innovation subject, reflecting a shift toward interdisciplinary learning rather than siloed technical education.

Built With Industry, Designed for Scale

The AI curriculum was approved by the UAE Cabinet in May 2025 and developed through partnerships spanning government, academia, and the private sector.

The Ministry of Education worked alongside Presight, AI71, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and Emirates College for Advanced Education to design a curriculum that balances technical exposure with ethical safeguards.

The programme spans seven core areas, including AI foundations, data and algorithms, societal impact, and responsible use, an acknowledgement that future AI fluency must extend beyond technical capability to include critical thinking and governance awareness.

Safety, Ethics, and Teacher Readiness

A key differentiator in the UAE’s AI education push is its emphasis on safeguards. According to the Ministry of Education, the curriculum rollout has been accompanied by extensive teacher training and child-safety frameworks to ensure responsible AI use in classrooms.

Educators are being trained not only to teach AI concepts, but also to guide students on issues such as bias, misinformation, privacy, and ethical decision-making. This reflects a broader recognition that early exposure to AI must be paired with guardrails, particularly as generative tools become increasingly accessible.

A Long-Term Bet on Human Capital

The series of AI-themed stamps may appear ceremonial, but it underscores a deeper strategic intent. By formalising AI education from the earliest years of schooling, the UAE is investing in long-term human capital aligned with its digital economy goals.

Rather than treating AI as a specialist skill reserved for higher education or industry professionals, the country is embedding it into everyday learning, normalising interaction with intelligent systems and preparing students for technology-driven careers that may not yet exist.

As governments worldwide grapple with how to adapt education systems for an AI-first future, the UAE’s model offers a glimpse of what systemic, nationwide integration can look like when policy, infrastructure, and symbolism move in sync.