Implementation of cybersecurity education in UAE school curriculum set for 2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum for students from Grade 1 to Grade 12, starting in the 2025–26 academic year [1]. This initiative is part of a national effort by the UAE Ministry of Education to embed digital safety and cybersecurity directly into the school syllabus, ensuring a generation well-prepared to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
The curriculum is designed to progressively introduce cybersecurity concepts, tailored to students' cognitive development at each grade level.
In the early years, Grade 1 students will learn the basics of online safety, acquainting them with simple digital security habits. As students grow, understanding the concept of the digital world and how the internet works becomes the focus, building foundational digital literacy (Grades 2–3).
In Grade 4, STREAM-based (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math) projects will focus on self-protection through interactive and practical activities. Detailed lessons covering cybersecurity risks, protective measures, and the development of critical thinking skills aimed at safe online behavior will be introduced in Grades 5–8.
More advanced studies on networks, internet infrastructure, and applied cybersecurity principles will prepare students for technical understanding in Grades 9–11. In Grade 12, a dedicated “Cybersecurity” guide will prepare students for further education or careers in cybersecurity and related disciplines.
This program offers both theoretical and practical foundations to help students use the internet and modern technology responsibly. The initiative aims to create a secure educational environment in step with the country's rapid technological transformation.
Education experts have welcomed the move, stating it would bolster students' resilience against online threats. The materials align with the UAE's vision of building a digitally resilient society, supporting the broader vision to cultivate a society capable of managing rapid technological transformations safely and responsibly.
The initiative is part of a sweeping effort to equip young people with the skills to navigate an increasingly digital world safely. The aim is to strengthen students' ability to recognize safe behaviour and identify common digital risks, raising their awareness of digital threats and their readiness to address them.
The materials will include specialized teaching guides in English, and the curriculum will be integrated into the national curriculum of the Ministry of Education in Dubai. This move underscores the UAE's commitment to fostering a secure and responsible digital future for its students.
[1] Source: UAE Ministry of Education Press Release, [Date]
- The comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum in the UAE, starting from Grade 1, will not only teach students the basics of online safety but also advance to more complex topics like networks and internet infrastructure in the higher grades.
- In addition to enabled digital literacy, the curriculum emphasizes self-protection and the development of critical thinking skills to ensure safe online behavior from an early age.
- By introducing detailed lessons on cybersecurity risks, protective measures, and practical activities in Grades 5-8, the aim is to prepare students for careers or further education in cybersecurity and related disciplines.
- Integrated into the national curriculum of the Ministry of Education in Dubai, this program supports the UAE's vision of building a digitally resilient society, ensuring a secure and responsible digital future for its students in their endeavors for education and career in technology and environment-and-self-development sectors.
