Students in UAE schools will have just the first two weeks of the new academic year to apply for transfers between academic streams under new rules introduced by the Ministry of Education.

The updated regulations for the 2026-27 school year are designed to ensure students are placed in the academic pathway that best matches their abilities while maintaining stable learning environments.

Under the new framework, all transfer requests will be subject to academic assessments, counselling for students and parents, admission requirements and official approval. Schools will also monitor students after they move to ensure they are adapting well.

Who can transfer?

• Students in the advanced stream can voluntarily move to the general stream at approved grade levels.
• Students in Grades 8 and 9 can transfer from the general stream to the advanced stream only if they scored at least 80% in English, Mathematics and Science during the previous academic year.
• Students in Grades 10 and 11 in the general stream cannot transfer to the advanced stream because of curriculum requirements.
• Transfers from the applied stream to the general stream will not be permitted.

The Ministry of Education has urged schools to make transfer decisions in consultation with students, parents and academic advisers, stressing that ongoing support is essential to help students succeed in their new academic pathway.

Emirates Engineering has launched a new programme giving UAE university students the chance to transform retired aircraft materials into innovative products while gaining hands-on experience with the airline’s engineering teams.

Called Material Futures Studio, the six-week initiative is led by Emirates Engineering’s Upcycling department. It aims to inspire the next generation of aviation engineers by challenging students to find creative new uses for materials recovered from retired aircraft.

The first edition brings together 23 students from Khalifa University, Emirates Aviation University and the University of Sharjah.

Students began the programme with an orientation session and a behind-the-scenes tour of Emirates Engineering’s facilities in Dubai, where they met senior leaders, explored aircraft maintenance operations and visited the airline’s upcycling workshop to see how retired aircraft materials are already being turned into new products.

How the programme works

Over six weeks, participants will develop concepts and prototypes using materials recovered from retired aircraft, with guidance from Emirates Engineering specialists throughout the design and development process.

The programme will conclude with a showcase where students present their final ideas and prototypes.

According to Emirates, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by giving students practical engineering experience while enabling the airline to tap into fresh ideas and emerging talent.

Part of Emirates’ sustainability efforts

Material Futures Studio builds on Emirates’ wider sustainability strategy and its multi-billion-dollar aircraft retrofit programme.

The airline is currently refurbishing 219 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, one of the largest retrofit projects in the aviation industry. Rather than discarding materials removed during the upgrades, Emirates Engineering has been repurposing them into new products through its in-house upcycling projects.

These include the Aircrafted by Emirates collection of limited-edition luggage, bags and accessories made from reclaimed aircraft materials, as well as Aircrafted KIDS, which transforms retired aircraft fabrics into backpacks for children. Emirates says more than 4,000 backpacks have already been donated to children in 11 countries.

Parents and students in Abu Dhabi can now obtain an officially attested private school fee certificate in just six minutes through the TAMM government services platform, making the process quicker and more convenient than ever.

The fully digital service allows users to request and receive a certified tuition fee certificate without uploading any supporting documents. This certificate is commonly required for government procedures, financial aid requests, scholarship applications, and other official purposes.

Applying is simple and can be completed entirely online. Users need to sign in using their UAE PASS account, submit the application, pay the Dh15 service fee electronically, and download the certified digital certificate once it is issued.

By moving the entire process online, TAMM helps families save time while providing fast access to an important document whenever it’s needed for official or financial requirements.