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UAE issues major new education law for all schools
The UAE Government has issued a Federal Decree Law on the Governance of the National Educational Curriculum, introducing for the first time a comprehensive legislative framework regulating how the national curriculum is designed, approved, implemented and reviewed.
The law establishes an integrated governance system that defines the roles and responsibilities of federal and local authorities, strengthening coordination, transparency, accountability and community participation across the education sector.
The Decree Law aims to regulate the approval of national curriculum components in a way that ensures consistency and stability, while preserving flexibility for continuous updates in response to future developments and evolving labour market needs.
UAE issues curriculum law
According to the framework, the law enhances the quality of national curriculum content, strengthens the competitiveness of the education sector and supports the preparation of students capable of effective integration into society and the economy at local and international levels.
The provisions of the Decree Law apply to all public and private educational institutions implementing the national curriculum, covering every stage from kindergarten to Grade Twelve.
Its scope also extends to private schools that do not apply the national curriculum, requiring them to teach approved compulsory subjects.
This provision is intended to ensure unified national educational foundations and reinforce shared identity and values.
National Education Charter
The Decree Law stipulates that the National Education Charter of the UAE serves as the supreme reference document for education, defining national education objectives, graduate attributes, national identity, societal values, targeted competencies and general educational principles.
The charter guides the design and development of the national educational curriculum and ensures alignment with broader national priorities.
The law clearly defines the components of the national educational curriculum, including:
- National learning standards and outcomes
- Curriculum design principles
- Teaching methods and methodologies
- Educational pathways and learning duration
- Language of instruction
- Compulsory and elective subjects
- Educational content for each subject
This framework ensures clarity, academic coherence and the sustainability of curriculum quality.
Structured process
Major, wide-ranging changes affecting the philosophical or structural foundations of the curriculum—arising from amendments to the National Education Charter—require approval by the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council and ratification by the Council of Ministers.
These changes are subject to mandatory field piloting and comprehensive evaluation before nationwide implementation.
Partial changes of limited scope, such as amendments to learning outcomes or the addition or removal of topics, are approved by the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council.
Technical or formal changes aimed at improving clarity, linguistic accuracy, visual presentation or formatting are approved by the Ministry of Education.
Exceptional and urgent changes responding to national or global emergencies are approved by the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council, with a report submitted to the Council of Ministers if the change is wide ranging.
Curriculum development
The Decree Law permits any government, private or non-profit entity, including those operating in free zones, to submit proposals for curriculum development or amendment.
Proposals must be supported by reliable studies and analyses demonstrating alignment with national education objectives, labour market needs, national identity and societal values.
Submissions are reviewed in accordance with mechanisms adopted by the Ministry of Education.
Under the law:
- The Council of Ministers approves the National Education Charter, the national curriculum and major amendments
- The Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council provides strategic direction and ensures alignment with national policies
- The Ministry of Education is responsible for curriculum preparation, development, review, educational resources, assessments, teacher readiness and implementation oversight
Educational institutions
Educational institutions must implement the curriculum, participate in pilot programmes and provide feedback. Local education authorities monitor implementation in private schools, while the National Centre for Education Quality evaluates quality and impact and submits periodic reports.
Private schools that do not apply the national curriculum are obligated to teach approved compulsory subjects under Ministry and local authority oversight to ensure compliance with content and teacher qualification standards.
The Federal Decree Law reinforces the UAE’s vision of building a stable, flexible and well-governed national education system that is responsive to global developments, supports comprehensive development and places human capital at the centre of the country’s future.
