- UAE issues Federal Decree Law to govern the national educational curriculum, defining roles, responsibilities, and approval mechanisms.
- The law ensures consistency, quality, and flexibility in curriculum design while aligning education with national identity, societal values, and labour market needs.
- Applies to all public and private schools, setting clear guidelines for implementation, evaluation, and updates across all grade levels.
The UAE Government has issued a Federal Decree Law on the Governance of the National Educational Curriculum, marking a major step toward strengthening and standardising the country’s education system. The new law establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive legislative framework that regulates how the national educational curriculum is designed, approved, implemented, and reviewed across the UAE.
According to the announcement, the Decree Law introduces an integrated governance system that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of federal and local authorities involved in education. The framework aims to improve coordination, transparency, accountability, and community participation, ensuring that curriculum development remains aligned with national priorities and future needs.
One of the key objectives of the Decree Law is to regulate the approval of national curriculum components in a way that ensures consistency and stability, while still allowing flexibility for regular updates. This approach enables the curriculum to evolve in response to global developments, technological change, and the shifting needs of society and the labour market. Officials said this will enhance the quality of education, strengthen the competitiveness of the UAE’s education sector, and help prepare students to integrate effectively into both the local and global economy.
The provisions of the Decree Law apply to all public and private educational institutions that implement the national educational curriculum, covering all stages from kindergarten to Grade 12. Its scope also extends to private schools that do not fully follow the national curriculum, requiring them to teach approved compulsory subjects. This measure aims to ensure unified national educational foundations while reinforcing shared identity and values among students.
The Decree Law states that the National Education Charter of the UAE will serve as the supreme reference document for education. The Charter defines national education objectives, graduate attributes, national identity, societal values, core competencies, and general educational principles, guiding the design and development of the curriculum.
The law clearly outlines the components of the national educational curriculum, including learning standards and outcomes, curriculum design principles, teaching methods, educational pathways, language of instruction, learning duration, and compulsory and elective subjects. It also specifies the educational content for each subject, ensuring clarity and long-term quality.
Importantly, the Decree Law introduces a structured system for managing curriculum changes. Changes are classified into four categories: major changes affecting the core philosophy or structure, partial changes with limited scope, technical or formal updates, and exceptional or urgent changes required during emergencies. Each category has defined approval authorities, ensuring timely decision-making while maintaining oversight. Major changes require approval from the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council and ratification by the Council of Ministers.
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The law also allows government, private, and non-profit entities, including those in free zones, to propose curriculum updates. Such proposals must be backed by reliable studies and aligned with national education goals, labour market needs, and societal values.
Under the Decree Law, the Council of Ministers oversees approval of the National Education Charter and major curriculum changes. The Ministry of Education is responsible for curriculum development, educational resources, teacher readiness, and implementation oversight, while educational institutions and local authorities monitor and report on execution. The National Centre for Education Quality will evaluate outcomes and measure impact.
Overall, the Decree Law reinforces the UAE’s vision of a strong, flexible, and future-ready education system built on sound governance and focused on developing human capital as a foundation for national growth.
