DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority has launched a new initiative designed to help learners build practical, social and personal skills that can support them throughout life.
Called Skills for Life, the program will be introduced during the 2026-27 academic year and is intended to reach learners from early childhood through adulthood. It was launched under the direction of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, deputy prime minister, minister of defense and chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The initiative is aligned with Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy and the UAE’s National Education Charter. Officials said it reflects a broader view of education as a lifelong process that extends beyond school classrooms.
KHDA said the program will help learners adapt to a fast-changing world by strengthening the knowledge, values and habits they need to succeed in school, work and daily life. It will focus on building confidence, resilience and adaptability as technology and social changes reshape how people learn and work.
Areas covered under the initiative include healthy living, nutrition, financial literacy, consumer awareness, digital responsibility, mental resilience, sustainability, relationship skills and independent daily living.
The authority said Skills for Life will also support Dubai’s academic and career guidance framework by helping learners make better decisions about their education and future careers. The program is meant to complement existing quality standards in schools while broadening the range of skills students develop.
Officials said the initiative recognizes that learning takes place not only in schools but also at home, in the workplace and in the wider community. It will involve cooperation among schools, parents, employers and other institutions to create richer learning experiences.
Skills for Life also supports several E33 “game changer” initiatives, including Future Astrolabe, City of Students, Life Camps, Learn Anywhere and Skills for Tomorrow. Those programs are designed to improve guidance, enrich education and identify the abilities learners will need in the years ahead.
KHDA said the initiative will continue to evolve based on the needs of learners and the future workforce, with the aim of preparing Dubai students for a more connected and unpredictable world.
