The academic calendar announcement includes start dates, mid-term breaks, winter holidays and spring breaks
Parents, it’s time to get those planners out.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially announced the academic calendar for public and private schools for the next three years, covering 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029.
The move to a three-year calendar is designed to help schools (and families!) plan ahead, manage resources better and organise academic and extracurricular activities well in advance.
Academic calendars in the UAE
2026–2027
The school year kicks off on 31 August 2026 and wraps up on 2 July 2027.
Mid-term break runs from 12 October to 18 October 2026 (back to school on 19 October).
Winter break is from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (classes resume 4 January).
Spring break falls between 5 April and 11 April 2027 (returning 12 April).
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2027–2028
School starts on 30 August 2027 and ends on 30 June 2028.
Mid-term break: 11 October to 17 October 2027 (back 18 October).
Winter break: 13 December 2027 to 2 January 2028 (return 3 January).
Spring break: 27 March to 2 April 2028 (return 3 April).
2028–2029
The academic year begins 28 August 2028 and ends 29 June 2029.
Mid-term break runs 16 October to 22 October 2028 (back 23 October).
Winter break is 11 December 2028 to 1 January 2029 (return 2 January).
Spring break takes place 29 March to 1 April 2029 (back 2 April).
The MoE has stressed that schools must stick to the calendar, including holding final assessments in the last week of term to ensure attendance through the final school day (except for students sitting pre-scheduled international exams).
One important note: this calendar does not apply to private schools following alternative curricula, such as Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani systems.
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