For families joining a British curriculum school, Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai schools are often the least understood part of the timetable. They are not optional extras. They are regulated subjects with defined pathways, formal assessment and recent changes affecting younger year groups. This guide explains how the system works and what parents should ask before enrolling.
Why Arabic and Islamic Studies in Dubai Schools Are Mandatory
Every private school in the emirate, whatever curriculum it teaches, must follow the UAE Ministry of Education standards for mandatory subjects, and the KHDA monitors delivery through its inspection framework. Arabic has long been compulsory for all students from Year 2 through Year 10, while Islamic Education is compulsory for Muslim students throughout their schooling. Schools cannot substitute these lessons or reduce them below the required allocation.
How Arabic Is Taught: Two Pathways
Students are placed into one of two Arabic streams based on home language background, not on ability.
1. Arabic A for Native Speakers
Children from Arabic-speaking families follow Arabic as a first language, covering grammar, literature, comprehension and formal writing. Expectations are close to those of a national school, and the course continues through the secondary years.
2. Arabic B for Non-Native Speakers
Children from non-Arabic-speaking families study Arabic as an additional language, starting with sounds, vocabulary and everyday conversation before moving into reading and structured writing. Progress is steady, and reinforcement at home makes a visible difference.
Islamic Education and Moral, Social and Cultural Studies
Islamic Education is delivered in Arabic for Arab Muslim students and in English for non-Arab Muslim students. Non-Muslim students are not enrolled in it. All students, however, take Moral, Social and Cultural Studies, covering UAE history, civics, values and heritage. Seeing how Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai schools sit beside the wider curriculum makes the timetable look coherent rather than crowded.
What Has Changed Recently
From the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the KHDA increased time allocations for Arabic as a first language, Islamic Education for non-Arab students, and standalone Social Studies lessons. Under the Loughat Al Daad initiative, Arabic also became a required part of early childhood provision for children aged four to six, with later phases extending to younger ages. Parents wanting subject-by-subject detail can read our dedicated guide to Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai schools.
What This Means at Dubai Scholars
Established in 1976 in Al Qusais, Dubai Scholars Private School delivers these subjects with specialist teachers and streams students carefully, so beginners are not placed alongside fluent speakers. Families new to the system often start with British Schools Dubai: A Quick Overview before narrowing a shortlist, then compare provision across the Best Private Schools in Dubai to see how departments differ in staffing and support.
Final Thoughts
Approached early, Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai schools become a genuine advantage rather than a hurdle. Ask about streaming, teacher specialism and reporting, then choose a school that treats these subjects as core provision rather than an obligation to manage.
Questions Worth Asking on a School Tour
Ask how many Arabic specialists the school employs, how streaming decisions are reviewed each year, whether support is available for late starters, and how progress is reported between terms. The answers reveal more than a prospectus does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai schools compulsory for non-Muslim students?
Arabic is compulsory for every student. Islamic Education is required only for Muslim students, and non-Muslim students take Moral, Social and Cultural Studies instead.
What is the difference between Arabic A and Arabic B?
Placement depends on home language, not performance. Arabic A follows a first-language syllabus for native speakers, while Arabic B suits learners starting with little or no prior Arabic.
Will my child be formally assessed in these subjects?
Yes. Both are assessed and reported like any other core subject, and outcomes feed into the school’s inspection results.
