Hey Raha blog · School life

Bullying at School in the UAE: How to Raise It and Who to Call

By Marie Adly · 24 October 2026

Finding out your child is being bullied is awful, and in the UAE it can feel harder. Many families are far from relatives, children move schools often, and it is not always clear which authority looks after which school. This guide sets out what official UAE guidance says, the order to raise things in, and the helplines that exist. It is general information, not legal advice. If your child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

What counts as bullying under UAE guidance

The Ministry of Education's bullying prevention policy (Ministerial Resolution No. 645 of 2020) describes bullying as repeated harm that may be physical, verbal, social or online, usually involving an imbalance of power, and causing educational, psychological and social impact. That includes group chat exclusion and online posts, not only playground incidents.

A one off argument between friends is upsetting but may be handled differently. Repetition and a power imbalance are the key words to use when you talk to the school.

Which rules apply to your child's school

This is the part that confuses many parents.

• Public schools and private schools that follow the MOE curriculum are covered directly by Resolution 645 of 2020, from KG to Grade 12.
• The MOE child protection policy for educational institutions (Ministerial Resolution No. 659 of 2020) states that it applies to all public and private educational institutions and covers both face to face and distance learning.
• Private schools on British, American, IB, Indian and other curricula are also regulated by their emirate's education authority, for example KHDA in Dubai or ADEK in Abu Dhabi. Each school should have its own anti bullying or behaviour policy.

Dubai (KHDA) and Abu Dhabi (ADEK) private schools

Abu Dhabi: the ADEK Student Behavior Policy

ADEK's School Policy on Student Behavior applies to private and charter schools in Abu Dhabi (effective from AY 2024/25, compliance from AY 2025/26). According to the policy:

• Schools shall develop a Bullying Prevention Policy in line with MOE Resolution 645 of 2020 and the ADEK Student Protection Policy.
• That policy shall cover educating students and staff to identify bullying, a school wide anti bullying programme, steps for students who are bullied, who bully or who witness it, staff procedures, support and interventions, and disciplinary procedures.
• Schools shall establish systems to track and monitor instances of bullying, including frequency and severity.
• Schools shall share the Student Behavior Policy with parents, for example on the school website.

Dubai: what KHDA tells parents

KHDA's parent FAQ answers "What should I do if my child is being bullied at school?" with: KHDA encourages all schools to have a child protection policy in place, and advises parents to raise any incidents or concerns immediately with the school and, if they cannot resolve the issue, to contact KHDA.

In other emirates, contact your school's regulator if the school does not resolve the issue.

Your simplest move: email the school and ask, "Please send me your anti bullying policy and the name of your child protection lead." Schools should be able to share both.

What the MOE policy expects schools to do

According to the MOE summary of Resolution 645, the policy sets out:

• A school based anti bullying committee
• Preventive plans and awareness for students, parents and staff
• Clear reporting routes
• Structured intervention and support for the child who was bullied and for the child who bullied
• Confidentiality, with parental consent as the baseline for sharing a student's information
• Annual review of the policy, and making it accessible to the school community

This describes what the policy says. How a specific school applies it will vary, which is why writing things down matters.

Step by step: raising bullying with a UAE school

1. Listen and record

Let your child tell it their way. Then write down dates, places, names, what was said or done, and any injuries or damaged items. Screenshot messages with the date, app and account name before anything is deleted.

2. Contact the class teacher or form tutor

Ask for a meeting, not a chat at drop off. Bring your notes. Ask what will happen next and when you will hear back.

3. Ask for the counsellor, social worker or wellbeing lead

Most UAE schools have a counsellor or wellbeing team. Under the MOE policy, social workers and counsellors have named roles.

4. Put it in writing

After each meeting, send a short email: "Thank you for meeting today. As agreed, you will ... by ... . Please let me know if I have missed anything." This becomes your record.

5. Escalate inside the school

If nothing changes, write to the head of section, then the principal. Mention the dates you raised it before.

6. Contact the regulator or official channels

If the school does not act, contact the school's regulator (KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi, or the MOE). If the harm is serious, use the official lines below.

Official UAE numbers (checked on official pages, 24 Oct 2026)

• Ministry of Education Child Protection Unit hotline: 80085 (moe.gov.ae). The MOE page also offers an online report form.
• Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre: 116111 (moi-cpc.ae).
• Dubai Foundation for Women and Children helpline: 800111. DFWAC's helpline page describes it as a free of charge helpline for all residents of Dubai and the UAE, 24/7. DFWAC's listed office working hours are 7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m to 12:00 p.m Friday; the 24/7 wording applies to the helpline only.
• Emergencies: 999.

The MOE Child Protection Unit page also notes that parents, staff and community members have a duty to report suspected child abuse. That is the MOE's wording, not our advice.

Cyberbullying in the UAE

Online bullying often spills into school. Screenshot first, then report and block on the app. Tell the school if classmates are involved, even if it happened at the weekend, since the MOE definition includes online harm. If messages include threats or harm, use the official numbers above.

Supporting your child at home

Keep routines steady, reassure them it is not their fault, and agree together what you will tell the school. If your child shows ongoing anxiety, low mood or does not want to go to school, speak to the school counsellor or your paediatrician. For the signs to watch for in the first place, see signs your child is being bullied at school.

If a nanny or helper does drop off and pickup, brief them in simple terms so they can tell you what they see at the gate.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a law against bullying in UAE schools?
We do not give legal advice. What we can say is that the MOE has a bullying prevention policy (Resolution 645 of 2020) and a child protection policy for educational institutions (Resolution 659 of 2020). Ask your school which policy applies to it.

Who do I call to report bullying in the UAE?
Start with the school, then its regulator (KHDA, ADEK or the MOE). The MOE Child Protection Unit hotline is 80085, and the Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre is 116111. In an emergency, call 999.

Does this apply to private schools in Dubai?
MOE curriculum private schools are covered by Resolution 645. Other Dubai private schools are regulated by KHDA, which advises raising bullying with the school first and contacting KHDA if it is not resolved. Ask the school for its policy.

Should I move my child to another school?
Sometimes families do, but give the school a fair chance to act first, with your requests in writing. Moving does not always solve it, especially online.

Can I speak to the other parents directly?
Most guidance suggests going through the school. Direct contact can escalate quickly.

Sources

• UAE MOE, Ministerial Resolution 645 of 2020, bullying prevention policy: moe.gov.ae
• UAE MOE, Ministerial Resolution 659 of 2020, child protection policy: moe.gov.ae
• UAE MOE, Child Protection Unit: moe.gov.ae
• ADEK, School Policy on Student Behavior (PDF): adek.gov.ae
• KHDA, Guide for Parents FAQ (read via Wayback Machine copy): web.khda.gov.ae
• Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre: moi-cpc.ae
• DFWAC Helpline: dfwac.ae

Related: Signs your child is being bullied at school · Managing school emails and class WhatsApp groups · How to brief your nanny in the UAE

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