New Rules Greet the New Academic Year
As pupils across the UAE settle into a fresh academic year, schools have rolled out tightened rules governing personal appearance, covering everything from hairstyles and make-up to uniforms and grooming standards. Parents and pupils at several institutions have received detailed communications outlining exactly what is and is not permitted, with school leaders framing the policies as part of a broader set of expectations around behaviour and respect rather than appearance for its own sake.
Among the most notable restrictions is a crackdown on partial-shave hairstyles for boys — commonly known as the qaza style, in which sections of the head are shaved closely while other areas are left longer. Several schools have explicitly restricted this look, along with other extreme or sharply contrasting styles, as part of their updated grooming guidelines.
“Smart and Respectful” Is the Standard
At Gems Royal Dubai School, principal and chief executive Jan Steel said expectations around uniform and personal presentation are communicated before each academic year begins and reinforced through daily checks throughout the term. Boys, she explained, are expected to maintain hair that is clean, neat, natural in colour and appropriate for the school environment, with extreme or patterned styles falling outside acceptable standards.
Families are asked to choose an evenly blended, conventional style that supports what the school describes as a smart and respectful appearance — language that reflects a broader philosophy several UAE schools are applying to grooming policy this year.
A Lighter Touch at Some Institutions
Not every school has adopted the same tone in communicating these expectations. The American Academy for Girls has taken a more creative approach to reinforcing its dress-code rules, with school superintendent Lisa Johnson describing how student house captains produced light-hearted fashion-show style videos illustrating acceptable and unacceptable uniform choices at the start of the year.
The school has also shared photographs of approved uniform combinations through its back-to-school newsletters, and has fielded questions from older pupils about make-up policies through respectful conversation and practical examples rather than blanket prohibitions. A merit-based system is in place for uniform compliance, with demerits issued for non-compliance barring extenuating circumstances, alongside a uniform closet available to pupils who encounter genuine difficulties.
Framing Uniforms as More Than Appearance
At Gems Al Barsha National School, principal and chief executive Michelle Thomas described the school’s approach as rooted in both British curriculum standards and Emirati and Islamic values, emphasising that how pupils present themselves contributes meaningfully to the overall school culture. She stressed that enforcement of these standards should always be respectful, proportionate and supportive rather than punitive.
Rules are communicated to pupils and families through school assemblies, tutor time and daily routines, with new pupils given time to settle in and understand expectations before being held fully accountable. When a pupil arrives with a hairstyle that falls outside school policy, staff engage directly with the student and their family and offer an opportunity to make changes, rather than resorting to embarrassment or confrontation.
Thomas noted that a shared uniform contributes to pupils’ sense of identity, equality and belonging, while helping to build broader values of responsibility and respect for the wider school community. Consistency in application, she added, is essential — with particular attention paid to elements that most directly affect safety, safeguarding and cultural appropriateness.
Uniforms as a Pressure Reliever
Johnson offered a similar perspective, suggesting that a shared uniform policy can actually reduce pressure around clothing choices for pupils, allowing them to focus more fully on their learning during the school day. She noted that themed days and cultural celebration events continue to give pupils meaningful opportunities to express their personal style and cultural heritage within an appropriate framework, striking a balance between structure and individuality.
Nutrition Standards Reinforced Alongside Appearance
The renewed focus on personal presentation has been accompanied by reminders around school lunch standards. Correspondence sent to parents has reinforced expectations that packed lunches avoid caffeinated drinks, ultra-processed foods and items with high salt content.
In Dubai, school canteen offerings are required to adhere to strict nutritional guidelines set jointly by Dubai Municipality and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, aimed at promoting healthier eating habits among pupils. In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Education Authority enforces an even stricter regime, banning processed junk food, sugary and energy drinks, confectionery, deep-fried items, nuts and processed meats such as sausages from school premises entirely.
A Broader Conversation About School Culture
Taken together, this year’s tightened rules around appearance and nutrition reflect a broader effort by UAE schools to shape not just how pupils look and eat, but the values and sense of shared identity those standards are intended to instil. While the specific tone and enforcement style vary from institution to institution — from Gems Royal Dubai’s daily checks to the American Academy for Girls’ more playful communication style — the underlying rationale across schools remains remarkably consistent: presentation, in the view of UAE educators, is inseparable from the broader culture of responsibility and respect schools are working to cultivate.
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