The UAE is taking its war on drugs straight to the classroom.

A new school subject, Security and Safety, will soon become part of the national curriculum in primary and secondary schools, a top official revealed during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Chairman of the newly formed National Anti-Narcotics Authority, said the move aims to instil awareness and resilience among students from an early age.

The initiative follows a major step by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who issued a decree-law in August establishing the National Anti-Narcotics Agency, a dedicated body to unify national efforts in tackling drug-related crimes.

“Sheikh Zayed described the Authority’s creation as a turning point in the UAE’s battle against drugs and addiction,” the statement said.

At the annual meetings, he highlighted key milestones in the UAE’s fight against narcotics both locally and globally. Recently, the country joined a massive international counter-narcotics operation that dismantled criminal networks trafficking drugs worth over $2.9 billion (Dh10.64 billion), in cooperation with 25 countries and several international policing agencies.

The Authority’s upcoming strategy will include wide-ranging community awareness campaigns targeting all age groups, with a special focus on the youth. “Our ultimate goal is to build an integrated ecosystem for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation,” Sheikh Zayed said.

He also noted that the UAE’s crackdown on online drug promotion has already led to 2,297 malicious websites and social media accounts being identified and blocked.

In a move that could reshape international schooling for Indian students abroad, India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to roll out its new Global Curriculum from April 2026 across schools in the UAE and other countries.

The announcement came during the CBSE Sahodaya conference held in Dubai this week, attended by over 800 school leaders and education officials from across the Gulf region.

While CBSE had previously launched the CBSE International (CBSE-i) curriculum back in 2010, the initiative was later discontinued. Now, the board is re-entering the global education scene with a freshly designed international framework that promises to blend India’s education priorities with global learning benchmarks.

The CBSE Global Curriculum aims to offer a globally aligned yet adaptable syllabus, creating a strong alternative to existing international boards like the IB and Cambridge.

Education regulators from the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar have welcomed the initiative, noting its potential to enhance teacher training, vocational education, and curriculum innovation.

There are currently 106 CBSE-affiliated schools in the UAE, making it the largest CBSE network outside India.

Education regulators across the GCC welcomed the initiative and agreed to explore collaboration on curriculum contextualisation, teacher training, and vocational and technical education.

They also discussed teacher qualification standards, equivalence benchmarks, and international recognition of CBSE certificates.

According to a press release, regulators praised CBSE’s efforts to maintain a balance between academic excellence and affordability, and expressed full support for the Global Curriculum. They also commended CBSE schools in the Gulf region for their strong record of compliance, quality, and student performance.

Dubai Municipality has introduced a new planning standard for early childhood centres, aiming to enhance educational facilities, optimise land use, and support the growing needs of the early education sector. The move is part of the emirate’s broader strategy under the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040 to create sustainable, high-quality urban spaces that benefit future generations.

Key Highlights of the New Planning Standard:

• New Floor Allowance: Centres can now build a first floor exclusively for administrative and service use.
• Building Coverage: Centres are permitted a building coverage ratio of up to 45%.
• Parking & Plot Requirements:
  • 1 parking space per classroom
  • 1 space per 50 sqm of office area
  • 1 dedicated bus space for every 3 classrooms
  • Minimum 3m setback on all sides
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Standard developed in coordination with KHDA and the Knowledge Fund, based on an extensive study assessing sector needs.
• Objectives:
  • Optimise land use and increase centre capacity
  • Enhance service levels without additional financial burden on investors
  • Provide modern, safe, and effective learning environments for children

Eng. Nasser BuShehab, CEO of the Planning and Governance Sector at Dubai Municipality, said: “This initiative supports the sector’s growing needs, provides modern learning environments for children, and strengthens Dubai’s position as a global city renowned for quality of life and liveability.”

Eng. Sanaa Al Alili, Director of the Urban Planning Department at Dubai Municipality, added: “By allowing additional floor space, the new standard improves urban flexibility, optimises land use, increases capacity, and elevates service levels without additional fees.”