Schools are required to provide alternative sports options or accommodations if a student cannot participate due to personal comfort or social norms 

Abu Dhabi, Mar 5, 2025: A structured curriculum for Physical Education (PE) has been made mandatory across Abu Dhabi schools run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), ensuring that all students engage in physical activity with qualified teachers and a written curriculum. 

Schools are also required to provide alternative sports options or accommodations if a student cannot participate in a certain class due to personal comfort or social norms. 

“Previously, PE teacher qualifications were not regulated. A coach or any instructor could be put in charge, and there was no structured curriculum,” said Sylvie Wald, Education Policy Office Director at ADEK. “Now, we are saying no — it has to be structured.” 

One of 39 new policies introduced by ADEK last September, the physical education policy mandates that every school aligns its PE programme with a physical literacy framework, ensuring that students engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily. More significantly, it eliminates the long-standing loophole that allowed students to opt out of PE with a simple note from their parents.