Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Sep 11: Over one million students across the UAE returned to classrooms for the 2025–26 academic year with a strong digital push—46,888 free laptops distributed to public-school students from grade 5 upwards. The initiative, part of the government’s plan to modernize education and close the digital divide, is backed by strict guidelines to ensure responsible use and cyber safety.

Mandatory pledge & usage rules

Students must sign a digital-safety pledge and follow clear restrictions:

• No access to pornography, violence, hate speech or illegal sites.
• No installation of unapproved apps, VPNs or pirated software.
• No cyberbullying or harassment.
• No tampering with security settings or antivirus tools.
• Education-only use—social media browsing or streaming unrelated content is banned.
• No cybercrime such as hacking or spreading false information, which falls under UAE Federal Decree Law 34 of 2021 with penalties including heavy fines, jail, and possible expulsion.

The Ministry of Education has deployed monitoring systems to track usage. Offenders risk suspension of device access, counseling sessions or expulsion. Parents are urged to monitor their children’s online activity and report violations.

National back-to-school readiness

Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri said the UAE is fully prepared for the new term with major investments:

• 9 new public schools for 25,000 students
• 465 schools upgraded for safety and functionality
• 830 new teachers and staff recruited
• 10 million textbooks delivered nationwide
• 5,560 school buses deployed for smooth transport

The laptop programme underscores the UAE’s commitment to technology-driven learning and 21st-century skills, blending modern infrastructure with strong safeguards for a safe, inclusive digital education environment.