DP World Foundation, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (MIT RAISE) have launched a collaboration to expand AI literacy education across Dubai’s private schools.
The programme will run until February 2030 and will focus on students in Grades 6–8 (Years 7–9), while providing training, tools and assessments for teachers. It is expected to reach around 80,500 students and support about 3,600 teachers through a phased rollout.
“AI will shape every industry, and every job. Dubai’s long-term competitiveness depends on talent, and that starts in the classroom. Supporting this programme is about giving young people in Dubai the practical skills to understand AI, question it and use it responsibly — and giving teachers the tools and training to bring that learning into everyday lessons at scale,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World said in a statement.
Phased rollout across Dubai private schools
In the first phase, the partners will work with educators from selected schools to shape the programme. This will be followed by classroom pilots and teacher training before the programme is expanded across Dubai’s private school sector.
“The collaboration with DP World and MIT RAISE reflects Dubai’s Education 33 vision and the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which place future-ready skills, talent development and innovation at the heart of our growth. By embedding AI literacy across everyday learning, we are preparing students not just to use emerging technologies, but to think critically, act responsibly and contribute confidently to a fast-evolving economy. At the same time, we are supporting teachers with the tools, training and confidence they need to lead learning in an AI-enabled world,” Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA added.
Dubai private schools to introduce AI learning across six subjects
The programme will introduce short AI learning modules across six subjects: Math, Science, Computing, Art, English and Arabic.
Students will learn how AI systems function, how to review AI-generated outputs and how to use AI tools within classroom activities. The aim is to support learning and instruction through subject-based integration.
Teachers will receive classroom resources, professional development support and guidance for implementation. A digital portal will provide access to AI tools intended for supervised classroom use, with a focus on age-appropriate access and responsible use.
The initiative includes two strands:
- AI Literacy for Dubai Private Schools (Grades 6–8 / Years 7–9):
A cross-subject programme with curriculum materials, teacher training and assessment tools. - AI Enrichment for High School Students (FutureBuilders-style):
A hybrid programme delivered during school breaks. It includes four weeks of online learning and one week of in-person activity, with mentorship, team projects and pitch-style presentations. Each session will serve between 40 and 100 students and will include certificates and evaluation of student learning and programme delivery.
“MIT RAISE’s mission is to expand access to AI literacy for all learners. This programme builds on what we’ve learned around the world and adapts it to Dubai’s context — supporting responsible practice, building local capacity, and giving students the confidence to engage with AI in meaningful ways,” Professor Cynthia Breazeal, Director, MIT RAISE further explained.
