Education

Back-to-School 2025: UAE gears up with new teachers, safety drives, and free bags for low-income students

Published

8 months ago

August 21, 2025

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As more than a million students across the UAE prepare to return to classrooms on Monday, August 25, the country is rolling out wide-ranging measures to ensure a safe, smooth, and supportive start to the new academic year. From the recruitment of new teachers to volunteer-driven initiatives, traffic campaigns, and flexible working hours for parents, the back-to-school season is being marked with a spirit of preparation and community.

1,700 new teachers join GEMS schools

Education powerhouse GEMS Education has recruited more than 1,700 new teachers for the 2025–26 school year, drawn from a diverse range of countries. The announcement came during the group’s annual induction programme, GEMS Awareness Day.

Chairman and founder Sunny Varkey described the year ahead as a “turning point” in education, stressing that while technology and AI would continue to shape learning, “no machine or line of code could replace a teacher’s warmth and encouragement.”

GEMS revealed it receives more than 600,000 job applications annually for about 2,000 vacancies, adding that it maintains some of the highest staff retention rates in the sector.

Volunteers pack schoolbags for students in need

In Abu Dhabi, Dubai Cares, supported by Aldar Properties as exclusive sponsor, organised its annual Back to School volunteer initiative. Hundreds of volunteers, including 80 Aldar employees, packed thousands of schoolbags with essential supplies for students from low-income families across the UAE.

The bags will be distributed through partner schools and charities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. Abdullah Ahmed Al Shehhi, COO of Dubai Cares, said the initiative reflected the UAE’s spirit of unity in the Year of the Community.

RTA calls on bus operators to prioritise safety
In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged all school bus operators to be fully prepared, ensuring the highest safety and comfort standards for students of all ages.

The RTA said its teams will carry out inspection campaigns to monitor compliance with safety procedures and school transport laws. Drivers are required to follow traffic rules, avoid blocking roads near schools, and prioritise smooth traffic flow.

Training for drivers and supervisors is mandatory, covering safe handling of students, adherence to traffic laws, and professional conduct.
Supervisors must escort children safely when boarding and disembarking buses.
Health and safety protocols remain central to the authority’s back-to-school program.

The RTA commended operators’ efforts and highlighted continuous communication with parents to reassure them of their children’s daily commute.

Police step up safety and awareness campaigns

Abu Dhabi Police have finalised preparations for the new academic year, rolling out measures to enhance road safety and student protection. Their plan includes:

Traffic patrols and school-zone monitoring at intersections and pedestrian crossings.
Awareness programmes for students, parents, and teachers on drug abuse, cyberbullying, online safety, and positive citizenship.
Lectures and training for school bus drivers and staff to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Accident-Free Day offers motorists black point relief

The Federal Traffic Council has launched its annual Accident-Free Day campaign on the first day of school. Drivers who avoid accidents and follow traffic rules on August 25 will have four black points cleared from their licences by mid-September. Authorities expect heavy congestion on the first day, making safe driving especially critical.

Flexible working hours for parents

To ease the transition, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has instructed ministries and government entities to allow parents of schoolchildren up to three hours of flexible working time on August 25. This will help parents manage school drop-offs and pick-ups without work pressure.

Looking ahead

With new teachers in classrooms, volunteers rallying for underprivileged students, and authorities prioritising safety, the UAE’s back-to-school season underscores not only preparedness but also the country’s strong sense of community. As Sunny Varkey noted, the human element remains central, whether in the classroom, on the road, or in the collective effort to support children’s education.

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Education

Driving through school zones? Slow down say Abu Dhabi Police

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Authorities in Abu Dhabi are reminding motorists to exercise extra caution when driving near schools, highlighting the risks posed by distractions and heavy traffic during peak hours.

Abu Dhabi Police stressed the importance of staying fully focused on the road, particularly during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups, when congestion and pedestrian activity increase significantly.

Drivers have been advised to reduce speed, respect pedestrian crossings and come to a complete stop when school bus stop signs are displayed. Officials warned that using mobile phones or engaging in other distractions while driving can pose serious dangers to students and other road users.

Police also emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility, calling on parents and the wider community to support safe driving practices and help create a secure environment around schools.

Authorities added that awareness and enforcement campaigns will continue as part of broader efforts to enhance road safety and community wellbeing across the emirate.

Education

Dubai school remote learning: All you need to know about fees, refunds

Published

1 week ago

April 23, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Parents in Dubai may still have to pay full school fees, even if their children are learning from home.

That’s the key takeaway from new guidelines issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which clarify how tuition fees and refunds work in private schools.

No discounts for online learning

Even when classes are delivered remotely, schools are not required to reduce or waive fees. If learning is available, online or in person, fees must be paid in full.

Skipping classes doesn’t stop fees

Thinking of opting out of distance learning? That won’t reduce your bill. Parents who choose not to participate must formally withdraw their child and settle all outstanding payments.

When can you get a refund?

Refunds are only possible if the school cannot provide education at all. If that happens, parents may receive a credit note for future fees, a transfer to a sibling’s account or a full refund.

Parents can raise concerns about online learning, but fees must still be paid while complaints are being reviewed.

Fees stop only in one case

Tuition fees continue as long as the school is offering classes. They stop only from the day education is no longer delivered.

Registrations still allowed

Schools can continue to accept registrations, collect deposits, and communicate with parents even during closures, using digital channels.

Education

How Dubai’s schools are slowly returning to in-person learning

Published

2 weeks ago

April 21, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai’s private education sector has begun a full return to in-person learning, with schools, early childhood centres and universities reopening from April 20.

The phased move comes after strict safety preparations, with more than 200 early childhood centres already welcoming children back in recent days. In total, nearly 600 private institutions are now preparing to resume on-campus learning.

The reopening is being overseen by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which has worked closely with schools to ensure all health and safety measures are in place.

Officials say student and staff wellbeing remains the top priority, with extensive readiness checks, staff training and clear communication with parents carried out ahead of reopening.

Schools are also required to meet strict compliance standards, with ongoing inspections to ensure safety protocols are followed.

As students return, many institutions will run orientation and wellbeing sessions during the first week to help ease the transition back to classroom learning.

Families are being offered flexible options, including in-person classes, phased returns or continued distance learning where needed.

Authorities say the goal is to maintain high education standards while ensuring a safe, supportive environment for both students and teachers.