UAE introduces revised school schedule for public and private institutions
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have announced the new academic calendar for the 2025-2026 period, which will apply to all public and private schools and universities in the Emirates. Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, emphasized that the new calendar serves as a strategic national tool, reinforcing both educational quality and social cohesion.
Private schools are required to align their mid-term breaks with the national calendar to accommodate their operational needs. The new calendar specifies mid-term breaks for public and private schools. The details of these breaks are as follows:
- First mid-term break: October 13 to 19, 2025 (schools resume on October 20, 2025) - Second mid-term break: February 11 to 15, 2026 (schools resume on February 16, 2026) - Third mid-term break: May 25 to 31, 2026 (schools resume on June 1, 2026)
These breaks apply to all public and private schools following the government curriculum nationwide, with the calendar approved by the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council (EHCD). Private schools not following the government curriculum may have flexibility for mid-term breaks in October and February but must keep them within the designated months and not exceed five consecutive days.
The academic year will start on August 25, 2025, and the winter break will be from December 8 to January 4, 2026. Spring break will be from March 16 to March 29, 2026. In Sharjah, private schools will have a shorter spring break, from March 16 to March 22. The end of the academic year is pencilled in for July 3, 2026.
Consistent holiday dates will enable community, cultural, and tourism entities to align their programs with the academic schedule, strengthening the link between education and society. This unified calendar aims to ease academic pressure, support family cohesion, and enhance student well-being across the UAE.
Pupils who have pre-scheduled international exams are exempt from attending school on the last school day of each term. All schools must follow the approved calendar, including holding final assessments or completing curriculum requirements in the last week of each term.
The new structure was announced separately by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This move is expected to bring clarity and consistency to the academic calendar across the UAE, ensuring that all schools and universities operate on the same schedule.
[1] Source: Khaleej Times [2] Source: Gulf News
- The Emirates' new academic calendar, announced by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, specifies mid-term breaks for public and private schools adhering to the government curriculum, with breaks taking place in October 2025, February 2026, and May 2026.
- The new calendar, approved by the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council (EHCD), features consistent holiday dates that will enable community, cultural, and tourism entities to align their programs with the academic schedule, promoting a stronger connection between education and society in the UAE.
- News reports from Khaleej Times and Gulf News highlight that this unified calendar, applying to both public and private schools, aims to ease academic pressure, support family cohesion, and enhance student well-being while bringing clarity and consistency to the academic schedule across the entire UAE.
