In a bold leap toward the future, the United Arab Emirates has announced that, beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year, every public school from kindergarten through Grade 12 will teach artificial intelligence as a core subject. This sweeping initiative—crafted with ethical awareness, foundational theory, and hands-on applications in mind—cements the UAE’s ambition to outpace its neighbors as the Gulf’s undisputed AI powerhouse.
Imagine a seven-year-old in Sharjah learning to train a simple neural network alongside math and language arts, or a 17-year-old in Abu Dhabi using AI tools to model climate-friendly buildings. Such an experience is no distant dream: government statements assure that students will not only grasp “what” AI can do but “how” and “why,” with modules on algorithmic fairness, data privacy, and real-world problem solving.
The UAE isnot merely focusing on textbooks. Behind the scenes, the nation is building a fortress of data centers—advanced hubs designed to train ever-more sophisticated AI models. It has also launched an AI investment fund, poised to swell past $100 billion in the coming years, in partnership with leading global tech firms. Last year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the Emirates as a potential “regulatory sandbox,” hinting that the country’s flexible policies could shape global AI standards.
Meanwhile, Washington is eyeing the UAE’s technological ascendency. Ahead of President Donald Trump’s mid-May visit—part of a broader swing through Saudi Arabia and Qatar—U.S. officials are weighing the relaxation of export rules on Nvidia’s cutting-edge chips. If approved, this move could turbocharge the UAE’s data centers, tightening its grip on the regional AI race.
This educational overhaul arrives on the heels of a staggering $1.4 trillion investment commitment the UAE unveiled last year, aimed at U.S. ventures in energy, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. And in another world first, the Emirates is exploring the use of AI to draft and update its legislation—under the watch of a newly formed Regulatory Intelligence Office led by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This pioneering system promises to speed up lawmaking while minimizing human error.
From coding classrooms today to self-writing statutes tomorrow, the UAE is crafting a high-tech ecosystem where the next generation won’t just consume AI—they’ll build it, govern it, and live it. As Dubai’s skyline rises ever higher, so too does the nation’s vision: to cultivate a generation of innovators ready to steer the course of artificial intelligence—both at home and around the globe.
