The morning rush across the UAE carried a different energy today, as students returned to school not just for a new academic year, but for what many are calling the beginning of a new chapter in education. From homes to school gates, the excitement was palpable. Children dressed in freshly pressed uniforms, backpacks slung over their shoulders, stepped into classrooms with anticipation and wide-eyed curiosity.
This year marks a significant shift: for the first time, all public and private schools in the UAE are operating under a unified academic calendar. The move is expected to streamline planning for families and bring greater consistency to the school year nationwide.
Adding to the sense of transformation, artificial intelligence has officially entered the classroom. More than a quarter of students across the country are set to begin lessons in AI, turning what was once a futuristic concept into a practical part of everyday learning. The curriculum aims to reshape how students engage with knowledge, how teachers deliver lessons, and how parents stay involved in their children’s education.
The scale of the return is vast. Over one million students are expected to resume classes in staggered phases. More than 280,000 students, including over 25,000 newcomers, began their academic year in public schools, while hundreds of thousands more returned to Western-curriculum institutions. For many Asian schools, today marked the start of a new term following the summer break.
Schools welcomed students with festive touches—sweets, chocolates, balloons, and cheerful “Welcome Back to School” boards. At Raha International School’s Khalifa City Campus in Abu Dhabi, photo booths were set up for families to capture the first-day excitement with themed props and backdrops.
On the roads, the familiar sight of yellow school buses signaled the return of routine. Parents handled drop-offs with a mix of emotion and relief, many pausing to snap photos of their children’s first steps into the new school year.
To support families, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) granted flexible working hours to federal employees. Ministries and government entities were instructed to allow a three-hour window for arrivals and departures on the first day of school. For parents of nursery and kindergarten children, this flexibility extends for the entire week, helping ease the transition into new routines.
Police presence was strong across the country, ensuring safety and managing traffic flow. Officers were stationed at key intersections and school zones, reinforcing the community’s commitment to student wellbeing. Coinciding with the return to school, authorities launched the nationwide “A Day Without Accidents” campaign. In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) displayed prominent reminders to motorists, while Dubai Police deployed an extensive force—750 senior officers and personnel, 250 patrols, drones, luxury vehicles, horse-mounted units, and motorcycles—to safeguard students and promote road safety.
As the UAE embarks on this new academic journey, the blend of tradition, innovation, and community support sets a promising tone for the year ahead.
