Back-to-school in UAE: 7 major changes parents and students need to know
New measures will affect learning, testing, technology and school life
DUBAI – More than 1.277 million students are preparing to return to more than 1,180 public and private schools across the UAE on August 31 for the 2026-27 academic year.
The new school year will bring several changes affecting how children learn, how older students are assessed and how technology is used in classrooms. The Ministry of Education has also expanded Arabic assessment, project-based learning and professional development for teachers and school leaders.
Here are seven of the biggest changes parents and students should know before the new academic year begins.
No traditional homework
Students from Kindergarten through Grade 2 will no longer receive traditional homework under the new policy.
Instead, families will be encouraged to support daily reading at home. The Ministry said the move is intended to make better use of classroom learning while creating a healthier balance between school and family life.
The approach is also designed to strengthen early literacy, language and cognitive development while encouraging curiosity and a positive attitude towards learning.
Grade 6 gets new digital rules
The Ministry is expanding its project regulating the use of digital tools to all Grade 6 students in public schools.
The change follows a study involving 2,500 students across nine public schools. Preliminary findings showed improved academic performance in non-digital classrooms, particularly in mathematics, science and Arabic, alongside better behaviour and classroom focus.
The policy does not mean technology is being removed from education altogether. Instead, its use will be guided by educational standards designed to balance digital learning with fundamental skills, critical thinking and classroom interaction.
New 50:50 assessment system
Assessment will also change for Cycle 3 students.
For Group A subjects, school-based and central assessments will now have equal weighting, with a 50:50 split. The Ministry said the approach is intended to better reflect students' performance throughout the year while maintaining a unified national framework.
Teachers and school teams will also conduct diagnostic assessments to identify learning gaps early and use the results to guide lesson planning and targeted support.
More Arabic assessment
The second phase of the UAE's Arabic language skills assessment will cover all Grade 1 students in public and Ministry-licensed private schools included in the programme.
The assessment will cover 19,000 Grade 1 students across 162 public schools and 11,000 students across 130 private schools.
The programme is intended to establish an early baseline of Arabic-language skills and help schools identify areas where children may need additional support.
Project-based learning expands
Project-Based Learning and Assessment will expand to more than 129,000 students across 366 schools nationwide.
A new integrated project for Grade 7 students will combine Arabic, English, mathematics and science in a single task. The aim is to help students connect knowledge across subjects and apply what they learn to practical situations.
The Ministry says the approach will also provide teachers with more varied ways of assessing students' skills and learning.
Schools face new evaluations
All public schools and Ministry-licensed private schools will be evaluated over two academic years, starting in the first semester of 2026-27.
The programme will assess schools against approved national standards, identify strengths and areas requiring improvement, and support the development of longer-term improvement plans.
Teachers receive AI training
More than 24,000 teachers, school leaders and specialists are taking part in specialised training, with more than 80 programmes and workshops.
The professional-development programme includes AI capacity-building, leadership development and other initiatives aimed at strengthening teaching and school management. More than 1,700 school leaders will also participate in a dedicated programme.
The changes come alongside wider preparations for the new academic year, including 11 new schools and educational complexes, 5,810 school buses and eight million textbooks. A total of 26,700 new students have been registered in public schools.