Emirates International School (EIS) has imposed a complete ban on mobile phones only two days before the new academic year. The school’s owner, UAE billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, confirmed this decision in a video message posted on his official X account on Saturday.
Al Habtour explained that this move is aimed at ensuring “a more focused and disciplined educational environment”. He further said, “Students will have to hand over their phones to the management or not bring them to school. It will not be permitted at all until they finish the classes.”
Aligning with UAE School Policies
Public schools across the UAE already prohibit students from bringing mobile phones to encourage positive behavior. In addition, the schools will withhold the phone until the end of the academic year. So, some private schools are also implementing similar rules for seizing the devices after repeated warnings and violations.
The decision of the EIS was in line with this strict and effective process. Therefore, Al Habtoor further called on other schools to adopt similar measures and highlight that education is a shared responsibility.
He said, “We are all partners in developing a generation that knows how to balance technology and values, and knowledge and identity.”
Emirates International School Preserves the Arabic Language
Besides the phone ban, Emirates International School will also place greater emphasis on Arabic language studies. However, Al Habtour mentioned that the dedication of the school to give Arabic the importance it deserves in the daily curriculum”. So, it adds that language plays an important role in saving identity and belonging.
The initiative also supports the recent changes that the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has introduced for the new academic year. Moreover, extended teaching hours for students’ Arabic and Islamic education are among them, especially for Kindergarten and Cycle 1 students. In addition, Grade 1 students in 100 schools are going to take an Arabic assessment to identify learning needs and provide tailored support.
Strengthening Early Education
Earlier this year, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) launched a new policy mandating Arabic language education for children from birth to six years in all private schools and early learning centres.
Emirates International School continues to pioneer in aligning with the national education goals with its branches in Jumeirah and Meadows. So, the school perfectly combines academic excellence with cultural values.
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