Dubai has launched one of the world’s most ambitious school-nutrition reforms — and it’s being powered by artificial intelligence. The emirate’s new ‘My School Food’ platform will monitor and regulate student meals across more than 500 schools, nurseries and universities, enforcing stricter nutrition standards, daily menu checks and real-time oversight of food suppliers.

Unveiled during the 19th Dubai International Food Safety Conference, the initiative is aimed at reshaping how children eat, how menus are designed, and how food-safety systems are enforced in educational environments. More than 400,000 students and over 50 approved food vendors will now operate under a single, AI-linked digital ecosystem.

A digital ecosystem — not just a menu-approval system

Dubai Municipality describes My School Food as a platform built to transform the entire supply chain, from planning a snack to enforcing compliance. The system includes menu evaluations, nutrition analysis, supplier training, student learning modules and parental engagement tools — all integrated into one platform.

At the centre of the experience is “Ghalia,” an AI assistant trained on municipal nutrition and safety guidelines. Ghalia responds instantly to questions from students, parents and schools — turning regulations into accessible, personalised guidance.

Students gain gamified learning tools, while parents receive recipes and resources to reinforce healthy habits at home. Suppliers and school staff will also undergo mandatory training and certification through the portal.

Real-time monitoring is built into the system — meaning school meals can now be tracked, audited and approved daily.

Stricter food rules and a colour-coded nutrition system

Alongside the platform rollout, Dubai has introduced some of its most stringent nutrition and safety rules to date. New standards now cover:

·        Calorie and portion control

·        Age-appropriate nutrition guidelines

·        Allergy management

·        Ingredient labelling

·        Mandatory hygiene compliance

A Smart Food Choices System divides food into four categories:

·        Green (Daily encouraged): fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, water

·        Yellow (Occasional): permitted with controlled portions

·        Red (Restricted): sugary or high-fat items allowed rarely

·        Black (Banned): deep-fried, ultra-processed or high-sugar products

Schools must also appoint a Nutrition in Charge (NIC) — similar to the existing food-safety PIC role — and carry out monthly NutriCheck audits.

Strategic partnerships to future-proof food systems

My School Food is supported by partnerships aimed at strengthening Dubai’s food-safety infrastructure.

A collaboration with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) will streamline food-import inspections and approvals, ensuring efficient supply chains. Agreements with Ecolab UAE will bolster safety and sustainability standards, especially in water management.

The municipality is also working with Canadian University Dubai and Manipal Academy of Higher Education to support research, develop AI-driven food-risk models and train the next generation of food-safety professionals.

A phased rollout — and a long-term health strategy

While the platform is active, the full nutrition-compliance framework — including the complete colour-coded system — will be implemented gradually, with full enforcement expected during the 2025–26 academic year.

Officials say the staggered rollout is deliberate, designed to ensure readiness, training and long-term compliance rather than rushed execution.

A new model for child nutrition

With AI-enabled compliance, real-time monitoring and strict health standards, Dubai’s My School Food initiative establishes one of the most advanced school meal regulations globally — aiming to reduce obesity, lifestyle diseases and nutritional gaps among young people.

The message behind the reform is unambiguous:

A smart city needs healthy students — and that begins with smart food systems.