13 Aug 2025
In a milestone achievement for youth-led
innovation, 10-year-old Emirati girl AlDhabi AlMheiri has launched a
first-of-its-kind AI Learning Academy—a free online platform created by a
child, for children. Designed for learners aged 7 to 13, the academy aims to
build early digital literacy and make artificial intelligence accessible,
engaging, and fun.
Engaging lessons with real-world
relevance
The AI Learning Academy features:
This approach is backed by research:
children are more likely to retain information and engage deeply with content
created by their peers. Studies show that peer-designed learning improves
understanding of abstract subjects by up to 40%.
Empowering girls through ‘Girls in AI’
workshops
The platform also addresses the gender
imbalance in tech. In the MENA region, there’s a 30% gender gap in AI
participation among middle school students. To tackle this, the academy
includes dedicated ‘Girls in AI’ workshops, designed to boost confidence
and inspire more girls to pursue careers in technology and innovation.
Teaching values, not just skills
What sets this platform apart is its focus
on ethics and character-building. In addition to understanding how AI works,
children learn about important values such as:
Students are encouraged to think like
creators, not just consumers. “They can build, they can lead, and they can
start young,” AlDhabi explains.
A young leader with an inspiring vision
AlDhabi is no ordinary child. She holds four
Guinness World Records, including for being the youngest publisher of a
bilingual book and a book series. She has undergone 163 hours of AI training
certified by IBM, attended executive learning programs at NYU Abu Dhabi, and
participated in an entrepreneurship fellowship at Georgetown University.
Now live: a free global platform for
families and schools
The AI Learning Academy is now available at
www.ailearning.ae,
offering a free, multilingual, and child-safe experience for families
and schools around the world. Whether in the UAE or beyond, children can now
begin their journey into the world of AI—guided by one of their own.
AlDhabi’s story is a reminder that age is
no barrier to leadership, and the future of education is already being shaped
by the young minds it seeks to empower.