UAE'S NEW EDUCATION LAWS VITAL FOR FUTURE

The two landmark Federal Decree Laws strengthen curriculum quality and future-ready skills

- BY ASHFAQ AHMED | Managing Editor

The UAE has once again demonstrated its forward-looking approach to national development with the issuance of two landmark Federal Decree Laws.

One governs the national educational curriculum and the other regulates higher education and scientific research.

These laws, issued in December 2025, are not mere bureaucratic instruments; they are strategic interventions aimed at transforming the UAE's education ecosystem, ensuring quality, relevance, and global competitiveness from kindergarten through higher education.

For decades, the UAE has invested heavily in education, building world-class schools, universities, and vocational institutions. Yet, rapid technological advances, evolving labour markets, and global educational trends exposed the limitations of a fragmented or outdated system.

The new curriculum governance law addresses these challenges by creating a clear legislative framework for the design, approval, implementation, and review of the national educational curriculum. It introduces an integrated governance system that clearly defines the roles of federal and local authorities, ensures transparency and accountability, and encourages community participation in curriculum development.

A crucial element of this law is its balance between stability and flexibility. By regulating the approval of curriculum components and classifying changes into major, partial, technical, and emergency categories, the law ensures that the educational framework is consistent and coherent, while remaining adaptable to emerging societal needs and labour market demands.

Richer and more relevant