What To Know
- She added that embedding AI literacy into daily learning will help students think critically and act responsibly in a fast-evolving economy, while giving teachers the confidence to lead learning in an AI-enabled world.
- Dubai has announced a major new AI literacy programme for private schools that will reach approximately 80,500 students across the emirate, as part of a landmark collaboration unveiled at the World Governments Summit 2026.
- Professor Cynthia Breazeal, Director of MIT RAISE, said the programme builds on MIT’s global experience in expanding access to AI literacy and adapts it to Dubai’s educational context, supporting responsible practice and building local capacity.
Dubai has announced a major new AI literacy programme for private schools that will reach approximately 80,500 students across the emirate, as part of a landmark collaboration unveiled at the World Governments Summit 2026.
The multi-year initiative is a partnership between the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), DP World Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (MIT RAISE). The programme will run until February 2030 and is designed to build foundational and responsible AI understanding among students while supporting teachers with training and classroom-ready tools.
The announcement was made during the World Governments Summit 2026, held under the theme Shaping Future Governments, which concludes on February 5.
AI learning for students and teachers
The programme will focus on students in Grades 6 to 8 (Years 7 to 9), introducing AI concepts across core subjects. Around 3,600 teachers are expected to support the rollout through a phased approach.
Students will engage with short, practical AI modules integrated into six subjects: Mathematics, Science, Computing, Art, English and Arabic. Lessons will cover how AI systems work, how to evaluate AI-generated outputs, and how to use AI tools responsibly in everyday classroom activities. The aim is to strengthen understanding, support instruction and enhance learning outcomes.
Teachers will receive professional development, implementation guidance and access to classroom-ready resources. A curated portal of learning-appropriate AI tools will also be provided for supervised use, with a strong emphasis on age-appropriate access and responsible practice.
Phased rollout across schools
In the first phase, the programme partners will co-design the curriculum with educators from selected schools, ensuring that classroom experience shapes the approach. This will be followed by pilot lessons and teacher training, ahead of a broader rollout across Dubai’s private school network.
Two-pronged programme structure
The initiative includes two key components. The first is AI Literacy for Dubai Private Schools, a cross-subject programme for Grades 6 to 8 that includes curriculum materials, teacher training and student assessments.
The second component, AI Enrichment for High School Students, is adapted from MIT’s Future Makers and Future Builders model. This hybrid programme will run during school breaks and includes four weeks of online learning followed by one week of in-person sessions. Students will take part in mentorship, team-based capstone projects and entrepreneurial-style pitch presentations. Each session will serve between 40 and 100 students and will include completion certificates and formative evaluations.
Building future-ready skills
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said the initiative reflects the growing importance of AI skills in every sector. He noted that Dubai’s long-term competitiveness depends on equipping young people with the ability to understand, question and use AI responsibly, while also empowering teachers to integrate AI learning into everyday lessons.
Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA, said the collaboration supports Dubai’s Education 33 strategy and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), both of which place future-ready skills, innovation and talent development at the centre of economic growth. She added that embedding AI literacy into daily learning will help students think critically and act responsibly in a fast-evolving economy, while giving teachers the confidence to lead learning in an AI-enabled world.
Professor Cynthia Breazeal, Director of MIT RAISE, said the programme builds on MIT’s global experience in expanding access to AI literacy and adapts it to Dubai’s educational context, supporting responsible practice and building local capacity.
