Since its establishment, the Applied Technology High School system has offered Emirati youth a career-based technical education. The system provides a solid, high standard Science and Mathematics curriculum that helps create the scientist, engineers and technologist needed to meet the knowledge-based economy of the UAE.

The ATHS system promotes two programs of study that build on the capacity of Emirati students, the ATHS Core Program and the Advanced Science Program.

Through the ATHS Core Program, students are offered academic core subjects combined with cluster-based courses that are customized in accordance with their interest and academic performance. The Core program is presented in Regular and Advanced streams to target students' differing abilities.