Dubai Launches Unified Online System to Combat School Bullying

Dubai is implementing a unified online system designed to report bullying across the entire private education sector. While schools previously handled bullying and abuse cases internally, all incidents must now be registered on this new platform to allow the education authority to track complaints and ensure they are resolved appropriately.

The system applies to all private educational institutions licensed by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), encompassing early childhood centres, schools, higher education institutions, and training and vocational institutes, across both physical and virtual learning environments.

"The safety, well-being and development of every learner are fundamental to our society’s future," stated Dr Saeed Kharbash, chief executive of policies, research and programmes at the KHDA. "These new directives reflect Dubai’s commitment to placing children and families at the heart of our social development journey."

The framework extends to learners aged 21 or under, ensuring that higher education students are included alongside school-aged children. Dr Kharbash emphasized that safeguarding is a shared responsibility requiring strong leadership, capable professionals, informed families, and a culture where learners feel supported. He noted that the policy framework provides the education community with the necessary clarity, accountability, and tools to integrate safeguarding into daily practice.

A key feature of the new system is that records of pupils involved in bullying incidents will follow them if they transfer to another school within the emirate, addressing a previous gap where records were often not shared between institutions.

Fatma Mohamed Al Janahi, director of foundation and growth policies and programmes at the KHDA, highlighted that the success of the framework depends on consistent implementation. She stated that institutions must translate these directives into clear policies and daily practices to keep learners safe, ensuring staff can recognize and report concerns and that learners know where to seek support.

The KHDA will provide practical resources and guidance to support institutions, while monitoring implementation to ensure safeguarding is embedded in practice rather than just policy.