AED1 Million Fine And Jail Time For Bullying In UAE Schools

Rahila, a working mum of two, wished two years back for a stricter rule against bullying in schools. Back then she had to change schools for her children because of the trauma they were facing in classrooms.

Starting from this year, the UAE will be cracking down on cases of bullying and making schools a much safer space for children

And honestly, it was right about time.

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From now on, if schools or staff are found guilty of neglect or bullying cases, they could face:

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• Up to AED1 million in fines
• Jail time
• Even full-on school closures

Yep, that’s how serious the new laws are. And both, the public and the private schools fall under the stricter regulations.

To ensure the rules reach the children who need it, the government will also be rolling out hotlines and emergency numbers so parents and kids have a direct way to report violations.

A Dubai mum shared the painful story behind her child’s trauma

Speaking to Lovin Dubai, Rahila, shared how her son had to go through therapy after relentless bullying at school.

They faced severe body shaming, name calling, and some kids would even go to extent of saying “you must have fat parents too.”

Talking about the extremeness of the bullying, Rahila said “The boy physically hurt him – once he made him fall and fracture his foot, another time he punched him in the face leaving him with a bruised eye. He even tripped him while getting off the bus.”

But the worst part of it all? The school didn’t take any action. Eventually, Rahila and her family had no choice but to move him to another school.

Experts say the trauma runs deep

According to Dr Samer Al Khateeb, psychologist: “Bullying or abuse in schools can leave deep scars on a child’s confidence and development. Strict accountability encourages schools to adopt preventive measures.” This would ensure that no child would have to face any such terrible situations.

Schools now have a legal responsibility to keep kids safe, and if they fail, the consequences will be huge.

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