New education rules allow students to use approved AI tools
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education has approved a list of generative artificial intelligence platforms for use in schools, establishing a formal framework to promote the safe and responsible use of the technology in classrooms.
Outlined in an annex to the ministry’s Safe and Responsible Use of Generative AI in Classrooms guide, the policy specifies a number of authorised tools for teaching and learning. The move comes as schools around the world increasingly integrate AI into education, creating both opportunities and challenges related to academic integrity, privacy, and digital literacy.
According to Emarat Al Youm, four major large-language-model platforms have been approved for controlled use in UAE schools: ChatGPT by OpenAI, Copilot by Microsoft, Gemini by Google, and Claude by Anthropic. The ministry noted that these tools are among the most widely recognised in the field and provide advanced capabilities for understanding and generating natural language.
The platforms are intended to support teaching by helping students build research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, while also enabling educators to create more interactive and personalised learning experiences. Importantly, the tools are designed to complement — not replace — traditional educational methods.
The ministry emphasized that the move is intended to keep pace with rapid global technological advances and to prepare students for a digital future. At the same time, it stressed that AI use must remain within clear ethical and regulatory boundaries to protect students and uphold academic standards.
Schools and educators have been instructed not to depend solely on AI-generated content and to ensure human oversight of all outputs. Students are also required to verify the accuracy of information, cite sources when appropriate, and maintain academic integrity.
The ministry added that the guidance will be reviewed and updated regularly to stay aligned with technological advancements and the evolving needs of education.
