The UAE Ministry of Education has barred government schools from using free or general digital learning tools that are not on its approved list for the 2026–2027 academic year, Gulf News reports.
The Huda Ata piece, citing Al Etihad, says schools must stick to platforms and resources the ministry has formally approved or put on its authorised list.
What the digital learning tools ban covers
Approved tools have been reviewed for fit with the UAE national curriculum, student safety, child protection and data privacy, the ministry said.
Free does not equal approved. Teachers cannot drop a new classroom app into lessons just because it costs nothing or looks handy. A tool has to go to the Curriculum and Assessment Sector and the Technical Operations Department for evaluation first.
Gulf News says the checks also cover data protection, technical compatibility across devices, Arabic and English support, accessibility for students of determination, and whether the resource backs active learning, creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. Training and ongoing technical support are on the list too.
If a resource raises safety or privacy worries, shows inappropriate material or breaks ministry rules, teachers must report it to the school coordinator, technical support or administration. School leaders then steer classes toward approved alternatives.
Four-level grade reviews in the same year
In a separate Gulf News report the same day, also by Huda Ata, the ministry’s 2026–2027 assessment policy puts student grades through four levels of review: the classroom teacher, the school principal, the school cluster director, then the ministry’s General Education Examinations and Assessment Department.
Schools must run moderation across all grades and subjects. Teachers compare marking and take part in professional discussions on criteria. Cluster teams will visit schools to check whether standards hold across the network.
What this means for classrooms
The digital-tools rule is about government schools and ministry-approved kit, not a private-school ban named in that Gulf News piece. It sits weeks after the Cabinet’s AI curriculum push for UAE schools, which tbreak covered in the Cabinet AI Advisor brief.
Parents and teachers should treat the authorised list as the live source. Unlisted free apps stay off the timetable until they clear ministry review.
Which schools does the digital tools ban cover?
Gulf News, citing Al Etihad, says the UAE Ministry of Education barred government schools from using unapproved free or general digital educational tools for the 2026–2027 academic year. That report does not name a private-school ban.
Can teachers use a free classroom app if it is useful?
Not until it is approved. Gulf News says teachers must submit new tools to the Curriculum and Assessment Sector and the Technical Operations Department for evaluation before classroom use.
What does the ministry check before approving a tool?
Compatibility with the UAE national curriculum, student safety, child protection, data privacy, device compatibility, Arabic and English support, accessibility for students of determination, and support for active learning, among other criteria listed in the Gulf News report.
What is the four-level grade review?
Under the 2026–2027 assessment policy, grades move from the classroom teacher to the school principal, then the school cluster director, then the ministry’s General Education Examinations and Assessment Department, Gulf News reports.
