At Dubai AI Week 2025, the Emirates Group spotlighted a pressing challenge for the UAE: school curricula are not keeping pace with an AI-driven economy. The group called integrating artificial intelligence instruction into education essential for developing Emirati professionals ready for tomorrow's job market.
Emirates Group Urges AI Curriculum Reform
Yousif bin Lahej, Vice President of Emiratisation and Government Partnership at Emirates Group and Board Member of the Emirati Human Resources Development Council, delivered a clear message during Dubai AI Week 2025: AI is far more than a technological tool.
Speaking to WAM on the sidelines of the event, bin Lahej explained that closing the gap between educational output and business market needs requires changes to curriculum design, job structures, and the broader legal framework. "AI is not merely a technological tool, but one that requires smart governance," he said, adding that educational institutions must update their structures while businesses adapt their employment systems to reflect contemporary AI-driven competencies.
Awareness Must Start at Home
Bin Lahej stressed that building genuine AI literacy cannot begin and end in the classroom. Awareness programs, he argued, should first take root in family settings before expanding to schools and organisations. National initiatives are needed to eliminate confusion around AI and establish an innovation culture across the country — from households to boardrooms.
Traditional Jobs Are Disappearing
The Emirates Group VP pointed to one of AI's most significant societal impacts: the displacement of established roles. AI creates a fundamental shift in workplace tasks, making many traditional positions redundant. Upcoming labour demand requires workers with entirely different skill sets, making proper training for the coming generation not optional but urgent. Educational programs and professional development systems alike must focus on digital competencies, adaptability, and innovative thinking.
Collaboration Is No Longer Optional
Bin Lahej was direct about what the moment demands: "Cooperation has turned into an essential necessity for our generation." Developing future leaders who can excel in an AI environment requires both a flexible legal system and a contemporary educational framework — and neither educators, businesses, nor government can deliver this alone.
Dubai AI Week 2025 ran from April 21 to 25, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and education stakeholders to chart the UAE's path in the global AI race. The Emirates Group's participation underscored the private sector's role in shaping that agenda.
