TLDR: The UAE Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Emirates College for Advanced Education, has launched the ‘Afaq’ program. This initiative aims to train approximately 500 teachers across the nation in advanced AI technologies, enabling them to integrate these tools into modern teaching practices and enhance educational content. This move aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to embed AI across its public school curriculum starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
The United Arab Emirates has taken a significant stride towards modernizing its education sector with the launch of the ‘Afaq’ program. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), this specialized training initiative, unveiled on October 26, 2025, is designed to empower educators with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) skills.
The initial phase of the ‘Afaq’ program targets approximately 500 teachers from across the UAE. Its core objective is to enhance their readiness to effectively integrate AI tools into contemporary teaching methodologies. This comprehensive program aims to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to design more personalized and innovative educational content, ultimately leveraging emerging technologies to improve curricula, assessment methods, and classroom interaction.
The training provides a robust learning experience, combining theoretical instruction with hands-on application. Participants delve into the fundamentals of AI and its diverse educational applications, gaining proficiency in using intelligent tools to tailor learning experiences to meet individual student needs. A key philosophy underpinning the program is that AI serves as a supportive tool for teachers, allowing them to dedicate more focus to deeper educational tasks such as fostering critical thinking, creativity, and future-ready skills among students, rather than replacing the human element of teaching.
This initiative is part of a broader national commitment to integrating AI into the educational framework. It coincides with the planned rollout of a new AI curriculum across UAE public schools, spanning from kindergarten to Grade 12, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. This ambitious curriculum, which will be seamlessly incorporated into existing school schedules, covers seven key areas: foundational concepts, data and algorithms, software applications, ethical awareness in AI, real-world AI applications, AI-driven innovation and project design, and AI policies and social engagement. The Ministry of Education will provide comprehensive resources, including lesson plans and activities, to support this nationwide implementation.
Sulaiman Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Student Wellbeing Sector at the Ministry of Education, emphasized that the program is a vital component of ongoing efforts to enhance educators’ capabilities in AI fundamentals and applications. He stated that it aims to foster an innovative and sustainable learning environment that supports the UAE’s knowledge economy. Dr. May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the ‘Horizons’ program (an alternative name used for a similar initiative by ECAE) reflects the college’s mission to empower teachers to harness AI responsibly, reinforcing Emirati values of ethical technology use and advancing the nation’s leadership in AI-driven education. The ‘Horizons’ program, in its first phase, aims to train 5,000 teachers nationwide through five workshops totaling 20 hours, covering AI-powered teaching practices, inclusive learning design, ethical school policies, and sustainable institutional innovation.
Also Read:
- Vietnam Workshop Explores AI’s Transformative Potential and Challenges in Education
- California State University System Forges Major Partnerships to Integrate AI Across Campuses
The UAE’s strategic vision, as outlined in its AI Strategy 2031, positions the nation as a global leader in artificial intelligence across various sectors, including education. By investing in teacher training through programs like ‘Afaq,’ the country is actively preparing its education sector and future generations for a technology-driven world, ensuring that students are equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to understand AI concepts and apply them effectively.
