The UAE Ministry of Education mandates Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies in all private kindergartens from 2025, aiming to strengthen national identity and language skills from a young age.

The Ministry of Education has unveiled new mandatory guidelines requiring the teaching of Arabic language, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies in kindergarten classes across all private schools in the United Arab Emirates. These changes affirm the nation's commitment to nurturing cultural heritage and identity from an early age.

Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, every private school, irrespective of its curriculum, will integrate these subjects into their kindergarten programs. The initiative aims to bolster national values among young children, fostering a generation adept in Arabic language, aware of their national identity, and understanding of UAE family, social, and environmental values, as reported by the Emirates News Agency.

New Educational Mandate for UAE Private Schools

The Ministry emphasizes that these guidelines are part of a broader vision to reinforce national identity through early educational interventions. Officials noted the significance of programs designed to promote children's skills in reading, writing, and national identity from the foundational years, laying a strong foundation for their future educational journey.

In preparation for the upcoming changes, private schools will receive comprehensive instructional frameworks and clearly defined learning outcomes for the three subjects. The Ministry intends to assist schools during the early stages of implementation with advisory visits. Full-scale inspections will commence in the 2026/2027 academic year, executed in collaboration with local educational bodies to ensure compliance.

Under the new mandate, Arabic instruction will commence with 200 minutes per week (40 minutes each day) in 2025/2026, expanding to 300 minutes weekly (60 minutes daily) by 2027/2028. These lessons will be delivered by qualified early childhood educators using approved resources and age-appropriate methods, crafted for both native and non-native speakers.

Islamic Studies will also become an integral part of the curriculum for all Muslim kindergarten students, with 90 minutes of instruction per week, structured as either three 30-minute sessions or two 45-minute sessions. Additionally, private schools are tasked with integrating concepts of family life, UAE geography, social values, and environmental topics into their kindergarten education. These concepts will be taught through engaging, play-based learning methods woven into daily routines.