In 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched comprehensive policies to enhance Arabic language education for young learners. These initiatives, spearheaded by Dubai and Abu Dhabi, aim to cultivate cultural identity and linguistic proficiency from an early age.
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) introduced a policy in February 2025, mandating Arabic language education for children from birth to six years in all private schools and early childhood centers. This was part of the "Loughat Al Daad" strategy, emphasizing play-based, inquiry-driven methods suitable for both native and non-native Arabic speakers.
Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announced the ADEK Arabic Kindergarten Policy in June 2025, requiring structured Arabic instruction across all private and charter kindergartens. The policy introduced a dual-track system, offering 240 minutes of Arabic instruction weekly, increasing to 300 minutes by 2026-2027, to nurture identity and belonging.
These efforts are part of a broader national strategy. In November 2024, Sharjah decreed Arabic as the medium of instruction in all government nurseries. The UAE is committed to preserving the Arabic language, ensuring future generations are rooted in their cultural heritage and proficient in their mother tongue.