The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) education for students of all ages in its government schools, starting from the next academic year. This initiative, announced by Dubai’s ruler and UAE Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of AI from both a technical and ethical standpoint. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of preparing children for a future that will be significantly different from the present, stating, “Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours, with conditions different from ours.” The UAE, a major global oil exporter, is looking to AI as a key driver for economic diversification beyond the oil industry. The Gulf nation has already taken significant strides in AI development. In 2017, it established the world’s first AI ministry, and it is home to the Masdar City University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, which focuses on AI research and development. Furthermore, in February 2023, the UAE pledged a substantial investment of 30-50 billion euros to construct a massive AI data center in France. This commitment to AI education and development underscores the UAE’s ambition to remain at the forefront of technological innovation.