UAE schools are tightening controls on technology use as the 2026-27 academic year begins, with public schools limiting routine laptop use for Grade 6 students and private schools restricting VPN access on campus networks.
The changes mark a shift towards more controlled use of digital tools in classrooms. At the same time, schools will continue to use technology where it supports specific teaching, administrative or operational needs.
UAE public schools limit Grade 6 laptop use
From September 14, Grade 6 students in UAE public schools will no longer use laptops as part of routine classroom teaching.
Instead, teachers will place greater focus on textbooks, handwritten notes and direct classroom instruction.
The change covers subjects including English, Arabic, science and mathematics. However, laptops will remain available when a lesson requires an approved digital resource or platform.
The policy follows research involving 2,500 pupils across nine public schools, according to Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri. The trial found stronger information retention among students who did not use devices routinely in class.
The participating schools also reported better classroom behaviour and more peer interaction. Academic performance improved as well, with gains reported in mathematics, science and Arabic.
The findings have helped shape the latest approach to device use in Grade 6 classrooms.
Ministry laptops will still be issued
The new classroom limits do not mean the Ministry of Education is removing laptops from students.
Eligible pupils will continue to receive Ministry-issued laptops through Grade 10 across general and advanced education streams.
Grade 6 students can therefore use their devices for assigned work outside routine classroom instruction. Teachers can also require laptop use when a specific lesson needs approved digital resources.
The policy builds on existing limits for younger students. Children from kindergarten through Grade 4 already use devices only for selected lessons that require digital tools.
UAE private schools tighten VPN access
Private schools are also tightening controls over how students and staff access digital services through school networks.
Several schools are restricting VPN applications and unauthorised private virtual platforms on campus networks. However, schools can approve access when a teaching, administrative or operational need justifies it.
Internet filtering systems will give school operators greater control over activity on managed networks. Schools are also reviewing online activity carried out through school devices and their own infrastructure.
These measures focus on online safety as well as network management.
They cover risks such as inappropriate content, unsafe online communication, cyberbullying, phishing and fraud.
Schools put more focus on approved digital tools
The Ministry of Education is also tightening rules on the digital tools used in government schools.
Teachers and staff must use platforms and resources approved by the Ministry or listed as authorised resources for the 2026-27 academic year.
Before approval, digital services undergo checks for curriculum alignment, student protection, data privacy and information security. Technical compatibility also forms part of the review.
The Ministry also assesses accessibility across devices and support for both Arabic and English.
If teachers want to introduce a new digital resource, they must submit it for curriculum and technical review before using it in class.
Schools must also report digital services that raise concerns over privacy, inappropriate content or student safety.
What the UAE’s new school technology rules mean
The latest measures create clearer boundaries around technology in UAE schools.
For public schools, the focus is on reducing routine screen use in Grade 6 while keeping laptops available for defined learning tasks.
Private schools, meanwhile, are placing tighter controls on network access and VPN use.
Together, the measures point to a more selective approach to educational technology. Schools are not removing digital tools from learning. Instead, they are limiting their use to approved and defined purposes.
For educators and parents, that means classroom technology will increasingly depend on the purpose of the lesson, the platform being used and the school’s digital safety requirements.
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