Several private schools across the UAE, including GEMS campuses in Dubai and Sharjah and the International School of Choueifat in Sharjah, have circulated new notices to parents restricting photography and filming on school premises without prior consent. The rules cover classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, assemblies and drop-off and pick-up areas.
The schools have also told parents not to share images of other students in WhatsApp groups or on social media without those families' consent. School officials cited the safety, privacy and wellbeing of students as the reason behind the move. One principal said the policy aligns with the UAE's privacy requirements and reflects guidance that is increasingly being reinforced across private schools in the country.
An exception applies to official school events where parents are specifically invited to take pictures, though schools still advise parents to photograph only their own children and avoid capturing images of classmates. According to reports, the International School of Choueifat has adopted a stricter stance than other institutions, while GEMS schools have taken a more conciliatory approach, promising clearer guidance will be shared ahead of designated events.
The new circulars reflect a broader trend among UAE private schools of tightening data protection and child privacy practices in response to the widespread use of smartphones and social media among parents. Education observers say the move follows similar steps taken in recent years by schools in other countries seeking to limit the unauthorised circulation of children's images online, as concerns grow over digital privacy and the long-term exposure of minors on social platforms.