Public Schools Introduce Dress Code Rules for New Academic Year

Public schools across the UAE have introduced new directives for the 2025–2026 academic year, tightening regulations around student attire and grooming.

Starting in late August, parents have been given seven clear rules to follow, including wearing the proper grade-specific uniform, flat fully closed black shoes, white socks, and prohibitions on sports shoes outside PE classes, nail polish, and makeup. Hairstyles must also be deemed “appropriate.” Schools will conduct daily checks to ensure compliance, making the dress code difficult to ignore.

The move signals a broader effort to promote focus, discipline, and social equality among students by reducing style-driven distractions.

The updated policy comes as over one million pupils are set to return to classrooms across the UAE for the new school year and follows a wider pattern of tightening school policies, including those on attendance and safety measures.