UAE schools to limit device use in core subjects from 2026-2027

UAE schools will introduce a more tightly regulated approach to classroom technology in the 2026-2027 academic year, with books, notebooks and pens set to replace electronic devices in four core subjects: Arabic, English, mathematics and science.

The move follows a review of how intensive use of devices and digital platforms is affecting learning and the student experience in school. Minister of Education Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri said officials had identified indicators that called for a closer look at the impact on writing, reading, language development, concentration and the connection between thinking and writing.

The policy is not a step away from technology. Tablets, computers and other digital tools will continue to be used where they serve a genuine educational purpose. But in the four core subjects, schools will return to paper-based materials in order to reinforce foundational skills and give pupils a more balanced learning experience.

The decision builds on a pilot conducted during the previous academic year, in which a group of students moved away from device-based learning and returned to books, notebooks and pens. Officials said the trial recorded improvements in performance in some subjects, as well as a significant improvement in student interaction inside schools and in student behaviour.