The UAE is among the most AI-penetrated nations in the world. Interestingly, the Gulf country is also emerging as a global pioneer in introducing crucial frameworks to regulate the use of AI. Recently, it introduced a key framework governing the use of generative AI in schools. This comes soon after a new child digital safety law came into force in the Gulf nation last month.
The new law makes parents and legal guardians legally accountable for children’s online activities. It also provides that if a child’s safety is directly compromised due to a lack of parental oversight, heavy fines will be put on parents. It further imposes a multi-layered set of obligations on both technology platforms and internet service providers (ISPs). Under these provisions, tech platforms must automatically set child accounts (under 18) to the highest privacy settings upon creation, and it is strictly prohibited to collect, process, or share the personal data of children under 13 without parental consent. Platforms are also required to provide guardians with the ability to set daily usage time limits, mandate breaks, and link accounts for direct monitoring.
In the new school framework as well, special emphasis is placed on children below the age of 13. A key provision prohibits the use of generative AI tools by students in this age group. The measure is presented as a way to protect younger learners from potential educational or behavioural risks while preserving early-stage learning that depends on interaction, creativity, and the development of independent skills.
The framework mandates that generative AI may be used in educational settings only under teacher supervision. The guidelines also explicitly ban the use of generative AI during examinations. Schools have further been directed to ensure that AI tools are not used for copying, cheating, or bypassing evaluation requirements.
The UAE has also prohibited the uploading of any personal data related to students, teachers, or parents into AI systems, including names, photographs, audio or video recordings, identity details, and contact information. The framework also issues strict warnings against producing or sharing inappropriate content through AI tools. In recent months, school administrations in the UAE have also tightened enforcement of the long-standing ban on mobile phones on campus. The regulation prohibiting students from bringing mobile phones to school was introduced in 2018, but its implementation has only recently been strengthened.
