Helping children use technology well is one of the trickiest balancing acts in modern education, and Dubai is taking a genuinely considered approach to it. New AI guidelines for schools are being developed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and are expected to come into effect next year. It is a welcome move that puts real thought into how AI fits into a child’s learning journey.
Why These AI Guidelines for Schools Matter
Aisha Miran, KHDA Director General, explained that the organisation is trying to find a genuine balance between preparing pupils for a digital world and preventing excessive or inappropriate use of technology. Speaking at a media event, she shared a simple but reassuring philosophy: “We cannot abandon digital technology. We want to embrace it.”
These new AI guidelines for schools are expected to cover several important areas, including:
- How schools use AI in day-to-day teaching and learning
- The safeguards schools should put in place before introducing any platform
- The role parents play in supporting responsible technology use at home
A Policy Built Around a Child’s Age and Stage
One especially thoughtful detail is that the policy will consider a pupil’s age and stage of development before determining when AI can appropriately support their learning. Miran noted that no decision has yet been made on whether specific age groups will face particular limits, since the authority is working toward a genuinely balanced approach rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
This kind of careful, age-aware thinking shows real sensitivity to how differently AI might benefit a six-year-old compared with a sixteen-year-old.
Freedom to Innovate, With Safeguards in Place
Rather than dictating exactly which AI platforms schools must use, the authority plans to set out safeguards that schools should consider before adopting any new tool. As Miran put it, “We’re going to have some sort of standardisation, but still not hinder innovation because for us innovation is important as well.”
This approach genuinely respects schools’ ability to choose what works best for their own pupils, while still keeping important protections in place. It is a thoughtful middle ground between rigid control and complete freedom.
A Wider Push on Screen-Time Awareness
KHDA is also working with other authorities on screen-time awareness for families, recognising that schools cannot solve this challenge alone. Miran pointed out that even a school with no screen use at all would have limited impact if a child then spends several hours on a tablet once they get home.
This honest acknowledgement that responsible technology use is a shared responsibility between schools and families is a genuinely mature way to approach the issue.
Building on Recent National Momentum
This announcement follows closely behind a significant national development. In September, the UAE Cabinet approved measures giving AI a more prominent role across government and education, including a new AI curriculum for schools nationwide. As part of that effort, the government plans to train 22,000 teachers and educators to use AI for teaching, assessment, and lesson planning.
These new AI guidelines for schools in Dubai complement that national AI curriculum push, adding a layer of local safeguarding specifically focused on how AI reaches pupils directly in the classroom.
Supporting a Bigger Educational Vision
This policy also ties into Dubai’s Education 33 strategy, launched in October 2024, which prioritises future skills, critical thinking, and personalised learning. These new AI guidelines for schools fit naturally within this wider Education 33 strategy, supporting pupils in developing skills they will genuinely need, rather than simply adding technology for its own sake.
Miran emphasised that safeguarding children will remain central to the new policy, with the overall aim being to help pupils use technology responsibly, rather than simply restricting their access to it altogether.
Why This Approach Deserves Appreciation
These new AI guidelines for schools deserve appreciation for several reasons:
- It balances genuine innovation with real safeguarding for children
- It considers age and development stage rather than applying one blanket rule
- It involves parents and families, not just schools, in the solution
- It aims to teach responsible use rather than simply restricting access
Conclusion
Dubai’s upcoming AI guidelines for schools reflect a genuinely thoughtful approach to a complex, fast-moving issue. By balancing innovation with safeguarding, considering each child’s stage of development, and involving families in the conversation, the authority is showing real care for how the next generation grows up alongside AI.
If your organisation wants guidance on introducing AI responsibly, whether in education or elsewhere, Horizontal8 is here to help. Reach out to Horizontal8 today, and let’s talk about building a thoughtful approach together.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Dubai’s new AI guidelines for schools take effect?Â
They are expected to come into effect next year, though full details have not yet been revealed.
Will the guidelines set age limits for AI use?Â
No final decision has been made yet on specific age-based limits, as KHDA is working toward a broader, balanced approach based on each child’s stage of development.
Will schools be told which AI platforms to use?Â
No, KHDA plans to set safeguards schools should consider, rather than dictating specific AI platforms.
How does this relate to the UAE’s national AI curriculum?Â
It builds on the UAE Cabinet’s approval of a national AI curriculum and teacher training programme, adding local safeguards for how AI is used directly in Dubai classrooms.
What role will parents play under the new guidelines?Â
Parents are expected to play an active role, since KHDA has noted that responsible technology use must be supported both at school and at home.