The UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the “Ramadan with the Family” initiative. As part of this initiative, public school students will participate in a special distance learning arrangement and engage in activities designed to enhance family bonding.

Under this initiative, every Friday throughout Ramadan will be designated as a day for distance learning for students, allowing them to spend more time with their families. However, students with pre-approved exam schedules on Fridays will be exempted from this arrangement to ensure minimal disruption to their academic progress.

To complement this move, the Ministry has circulated a comprehensive guide outlining various student activities in collaboration with parents. These activities are designed to enrich students’ understanding of the cultural and spiritual significance of Ramadan while promoting family engagement. “The holy month of Ramadan is a time for reflection, togetherness, and giving. Through the ‘Ramadan with the Family’ initiative, we aim to create a supportive learning environment that integrates academic growth with family values,” the Ministry stated.

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has introduced a groundbreaking policy aimed at enhancing Arabic language education in early childhood learning, the authority announced on Friday.

The new policy mandates Arabic language education for children from birth to six years old at all private schools and early childhood centres in Dubai. This initiative seeks to reinforce the use of Arabic in both educational institutions and society, fostering a deep-rooted sense of pride in Emirati culture, language, and heritage.

Implementation Timeline

The policy will take effect from September 2025 for schools that follow a September academic year and from April 2026 for schools that begin their academic year in April. It will be implemented in phases, with the first phase—starting in September 2025—focusing on children aged four to six years. Subsequent phases will gradually extend the policy to cover all children from birth to six years.

A Play-Based Approach to Learning Arabic

KHDA emphasized that the new policy promotes a play-based, inquiry-driven approach to Arabic language learning in early childhood. Schools and early childhood centres will be required to offer diverse language-learning models to cater to both native and non-native Arabic speakers.

Additionally, at least one-third of a child’s instructional time must involve an Arabic teacher engaging students in interactive and culturally relevant activities. Schools must also ensure that Arabic teachers hold the necessary qualifications and receive professional development to enhance their teaching skills.

Parental Involvement Encouraged

KHDA has urged parents to actively support their children’s Arabic language development both at school and home. Schools will provide resources and strategies to help integrate Arabic language learning into everyday life.

‘Language of Daad’ Initiative

The initiative to enhance Arabic language education in early childhood is part of Loughat Al Daad, one of 28 key initiatives under Dubai’s Education 33 strategy.

“Daad is a letter and sound unique to the Arabic language, and Loughat Al Daad translates to ‘The Language of Daad.’ This initiative aims to strengthen Arabic language acquisition while deepening children’s understanding of UAE culture and heritage,” KHDA highlighted.

Updates to Mandatory Subjects

In addition to the early childhood Arabic education policy, KHDA has updated the curriculum requirements for national mandatory subjects across private schools in Dubai. These include Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies, and Moral Education for students from Grade 1/Year 2 to Grade 12/Year 13.

The updates introduce:

• Increased instructional time for these subjects.
• Changes in the language of instruction for Arabic, Islamic Education, and Social Studies for Arab students.
• Revised content for UAE Social, Moral, and Cultural Studies for non-Arab students.

These changes reflect KHDA’s commitment to enhancing Arabic language proficiency and strengthening the cultural education framework within Dubai’s private school system.

The inaugural Sport Impact Summit (SIS) 2024 united over 200 global leaders, dignitaries, and changemakers at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, to champion the transformative power of sport in addressing critical global challenges, including climate action, sustainability, and human health.

The summit, held under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Suhail Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the General Authority of Sports, provided an engaging platform for impactful discussions, innovative partnerships, and actionable solutions.

Key highlights included the UAE Ministry of Sport Masterclass, presented by Oxford SDG and Sport Impact, showcasing best practices in sustainability leadership. The summit also featured powerful stories of innovation and advocacy from organizations like McLaren, Deloitte, ATP Tour, Nitto, Sail GP, and Reflo, emphasizing the sport industry’s role in fostering environmental stewardship.

The event’s agenda also included:

-Moneyball Talk: Hosted by Dureka Carrasquillo, this session explored the evolving financial landscape of sustainability sponsorship in sports with insights from 1.5 Capital, SURJ, Udinese Calcio, and VTV Consulting.

-Player Power Panel: Featuring Justin Coghlan, Dominic Thiem, and Lucy Shuker, the panel highlighted athletes’ increasing influence in driving meaningful change.

-Biodiversity Tour: In partnership with Goumbook and Atlantis Dubai, this initiative highlighted the critical connection between sport and environmental preservation.-Mike Ford, Co-Founder of SIS, noted, “The overwhelming enthusiasm we’ve witnessed confirms the sporting world’s readiness to take bold action to address sustainability and human health challenges. This summit marks the beginning of a global movement. We are thrilled to announce a series of future masterclasses across the region and the launch of the Sport Impact Summit 2025, aligning with the Dubai Fitness Challenge next year.”

Sean Morris, Co-Founder of SIS, added, “The success of this summit underscores the collective power of sport and the necessity of collaborative action. This event has catalyzed partnerships and ideas that will shape the future of sustainability in sport, driving tangible progress toward a better world.”