The Ministry of Education has approved the academic calendar for public and private schools for the 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years, setting fixed start dates and holiday breaks across the country.
The move aims to provide clarity for students, parents and schools while supporting long-term planning across the education sector.
2026-2027 dates
The academic year will begin on August 31, 2026.
The first mid-term break will run from October 12 to October 18, 2026, with classes resuming on October 19. Winter break will take place from December 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027, and schools will reopen on January 4.
Spring break is scheduled from April 5 to April 11, 2027, with students returning on April 12. The school year will end on July 2, 2027.
2027-2028 dates
The 2027-2028 academic year will start on August 30, 2027.
Mid-term break will run from October 11 to October 17, 2027. Classes will resume on October 18. Winter break will be from December 13, 2027, to January 2, 2028, with schools reopening on January 3.
Spring break will take place from March 27 to April 2, 2028. Students will return to school on April 3. The academic year will conclude on June 30, 2028.
2028-2029 dates
The 2028-2029 school year will begin on August 28, 2028.
The first mid-term break will be from October 16 to October 22, 2028, with classes resuming on October 23. Winter break will run from December 11, 2028, to January 1, 2029. Schools will reopen on January 2.
Spring break is scheduled from March 29 to April 1, 2029, with students returning on April 2. The academic year will end on June 29, 2029.
Break rules
The ministry said all schools in the UAE must follow the approved mid-term break for the first semester as outlined in the official calendar.
However, local education authorities may allow private schools that do not follow the ministry curriculum to divide the October break between October and February. In such cases, the total duration must not exceed five school days and must meet operational requirements. This flexibility applies to private schools across the UAE, except in Sharjah, where schools operate under the emirate’s regulatory framework.
The ministry also said schools must complete final assessments or curriculum requirements in the last week of each term to ensure students attend until the final school day. This does not apply to grades sitting pre-scheduled international exams.
The calendar does not apply to private schools that follow alternative curricula, including Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani systems.
According to the ministry, setting a three-year academic calendar will help schools improve planning, manage resources more efficiently and organise academic and extracurricular programmes in advance.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
