Parents of children enrolled in Dubai private schools are being urged to stay alert after education and health authorities raised concerns about dangerous social media trends circulating among students.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), alongside the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), has issued an advisory warning parents about risky behaviours reported in some schools. These include choking, breath-holding, applying pressure to the neck or head, and participation in viral challenges.

One of the most concerning trends highlighted is the “Skull Breaker Challenge”, where two people deliberately kick the legs from under a third person, causing them to fall, often backwards, risking serious head or spinal injuries. The challenge previously gained attention on social media in 2020 and had prompted warnings from Dubai Police at the time.

KHDA stressed that while children may see these actions as jokes or harmless fun, they carry serious and immediate health risks. Students found participating in, encouraging, or recording such behaviour will face disciplinary action under their school’s behaviour policy. In more serious cases, matters may be referred to external authorities.

What parents should watch out for

Parents are encouraged to remain vigilant and look out for both physical and behavioural warning signs, including:

• Marks, redness, or bruising around the neck
• Headaches, dizziness, fainting, or bloodshot eyes
• Sudden secrecy around online activity
• Talking about viral challenges or risky games
• Unexplained mood or behaviour changes
• Wearing clothing that hides the neck area

Any concerns should prompt an immediate conversation with the child and contact with the school if worries persist.

Why are these activities dangerous

According to DHA, restricting breathing or blood flow to the brain can be fatal:

• Brain damage can occur within seconds without oxygen
• Irreversible damage may happen in under a minute
• Oxygen deprivation can trigger seizures and heart rhythm disturbances
• Pressure on the neck can damage airways and blood vessels
• Multiple countries have reported deaths among children aged 7 to 17
• There is no safe way to take part in these activities

What parents can do

KHDA is urging parents to:

• Speak openly with children about the dangers of these behaviours
• Reinforce that they are not games and can be life-threatening
• Monitor online activity and be aware of peer influence
• Contact the school or seek medical advice if they have immediate concerns

While schools are addressing the issue directly with students, KHDA emphasised that parent involvement is critical to reinforcing safety messages beyond the classroom.

School runs in Dubai could soon get a lot easier for parents.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a new school transport pooling pilot set to launch in early 2026, designed to reduce traffic around schools and offer families a safer, more convenient alternative to daily drop-offs and pick-ups.

The initiative, developed in collaboration with Yango Group and Urban Express Transport, will introduce shared school buses serving multiple schools within defined geographic zones. The goal is to reduce the growing reliance on private vehicles for school drop-offs and pickups, which has contributed to congestion during peak hours.

RTA says the move comes as more families rely on private cars for school runs, adding to congestion during peak hours. By encouraging shared transport, the authority hopes to ease pressure on busy school zones while keeping costs affordable for parents.

According to Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, the pilot will offer an affordable alternative to private school transport while improving traffic flow around school areas. He confirmed that the initiative will operate under strict safety and security standards, fully aligned with Dubai’s regulatory framework.

The shared bus model is also expected to shorten travel times, improve punctuality, and create a smoother start and end to the school day. At the same time, it supports Dubai’s push towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly transport options.

RTA said the pilot will be carefully assessed before any wider rollout, with feedback from families playing a key role. If successful, the initiative could reshape how school transport works in Dubai, making daily routines simpler, safer, and less stressful for parents and students.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has announced plans to expand its instant digital degree verification service, eliminating paperwork, physical visits and waiting times for graduates.

Launched in 2025 as part of the ministry’s digital overhaul, the service has already been used by over 25,000 graduates and is connected to 34 UAE-based universities, allowing qualifications to be verified in real time.

Previously, degree verification took up to three days and involved multiple steps. The new system completes the process instantly.

MoHESR also confirmed that the service will be extended to Emirati students studying abroad on scholarships, enabling them to access government services seamlessly from anywhere in the world.

The initiative is part of the ministry’s wider “zero bureaucracy” programme, which has removed more than 400 procedures, eliminated 180 document requirements, and simplified digital services using AI-enabled systems.

Universities have also benefited, with approval times for new academic programmes cut from six months to just seven days, documentation reduced to a single requirement, and costs eliminated.

The ministry said further digital services will be added in the next phase, supporting a more efficient higher education system and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global education hub.