Arabic Lessons to Be Mandatory for All Private Kindergartens

The Ministry of Education has issued mandatory curriculum guidelines for all private kindergartens across the UAE, effective from the 2025–2026 academic year. Under the new rules, Arabic language lessons must total 200 minutes per week, equivalent to 40 minutes daily. That requirement will rise to 300 minutes per week (60 minutes per day) by the 2027–28 school year.

Qualified early childhood teachers will deliver Arabic to both native and non-native speakers using approved materials and age-appropriate methods. Meanwhile, Islamic Studies will be compulsory for Muslim students, with 90 minutes of weekly instruction structured as either three 30-minute sessions or two 45-minute classes.

Social Studies will also be integrated into daily learning for all kindergarteners, teaching concepts such as family life, UAE geography, social values, and environmental awareness through play-based activities. To support schools, the Ministry will provide frameworks and learning outcomes ahead of the new school term, offer advisory visits, and begin regular inspections in 2026–27 to ensure compliance.