More than eight in ten students across UAE schools feel connected, supported and positively engaged in their school environments, according to new findings from Peekapak, an award-winning edtech and student wellbeing platform’s recent UAE Wellbeing Surveys. Showcasing insights into how students and teachers experience and perceive wellbeing, the results highlight the strong cultures of belonging, kindness and wellbeing being fostered across schools in the region.
The surveys, conducted and validated among elementary and secondary students and their teachers in 20 UAE schools, explored wellbeing across four domains aligned to the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) Student Wellbeing Framework. Students were asked to reflect on a series of statements using a Likert scale ranging from “not at all” to “definitely,” indicating how closely each statement resonated with their lived experience. Teachers responded to parallel statements using the same scale to reflect their perceptions of student wellbeing.
Across the surveyed schools, the strongest signals of wellbeing emerged in areas that are shared, relational, and outwardly expressed. Students consistently reported positive sentiment in ADEK-aligned items such as positive atmosphere, communication, supportive relationships, and kindness. Between 83-86% of students responded favourably to relational ADEK items, with teacher perceptions closely mirroring these results. These relational indicators remained relatively stable from elementary to secondary school.
In contrast, areas of wellbeing that reflect students’ inner experiences and self-directed growth showed more varied responses. Items such as self-management, meaning and purpose, deep learning, self-regulation, and cultivating happiness were associated with lower overall sentiment and lower alignment between student responses and teacher perceptions. Approximately 68–78% of students reported favourable responses to internal ADEK items, with declines most evident during the transition from elementary to secondary schooling.
While sentiment across all areas remained generally positive, the data suggests that internal dimensions of wellbeing may become more challenging to sustain and observe during periods of increased developmental and academic complexity. It highlights how wellbeing is most visible and consistently reinforced in shared, relational spaces, while more internal aspects of wellbeing may deeply benefit from deeper listening and reflection instead.
Now adopted by 50% of Abu Dhabi charter schools and institutions such as Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, the surveys are trusted by school leaders in making informed decisions that strengthen wellbeing strategies and foster a positive, supportive learning environment.
“UAE schools are clearly nurturing strong cultures of kindness, belonging, and connection and play a significant role in this.,” said Dr. Jenna Santyr, Director of Education at Peekapak. “At the same time, the data reminds us that some dimensions of wellbeing are quieter and harder to observe. By prioritizing kindness and healthy lifestyle and creating a space for students to express how they are managing motivation, purpose, and emotional balance is an important part of supporting their growth over time and shaping their future, allowing them to be happier and healthier while also developing the skills and resilience they need that will benefit them long-term.”
Taken together, the results are a reminder that wellbeing must be understood and measured as both a shared school experience and an internal journey. The findings also highlight how UAE schools that cultivate kindness, supportive relationships and healthy habits are helping students in the region thrive emotionally, socially and physically, while also equipping them with the skills to succeed in the future.
Note: Results reflect aggregated responses to Likert-scale survey items aligned to ADEK wellbeing items. Percentages represent the proportion of respondents indicating positive sentiment (“mostly” or “definitely”) and do not imply causation.
