UAE Unveils New Unified School Calendar for 2025–2026

  • 24/07/2025

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has rolled out a new school calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year, setting consistent term dates and holidays for public and private schools across the country.

Approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the revised schedule aims to promote family time, support student well-being, and create a stronger link between the education sector and the wider community — in line with the ‘Year of Community’.

Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri described the calendar as a significant improvement in how the academic year is structured, enhancing educational quality and social cohesion. The alignment of school holidays is also expected to help cultural, tourism, and community initiatives synchronize their events with school schedules.

According to the new calendar, classes will begin on August 25, 2025, and the first term will end on December 7, 2025, followed by a four-week winter break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Students will return for the second term on January 5, which will run until March 15, 2026, followed by a spring break from March 16 to 29, 2026. Schools will resume on March 30, except for private schools in Sharjah, which will reopen a week earlier on March 23, 2026. The third term will run from March 30 to July 3, 2026, with Sharjah’s schools closing on July 2, 2026.

A notable addition is the introduction of mid-term breaks for schools following the national curriculum. The first mid-term break will take place from October 13 to 19, 2025, the second from February 11 to 15, 2026, and the third from May 25 to 31, 2026, which aligns with Eid Al Adha. These breaks are designed to ease academic stress, boost students’ mental health, and provide families with quality time together.

Private schools not following the national curriculum may also introduce mid-term breaks in October and February but must limit each break to a maximum of five consecutive days within the specified months. Extending or shifting these breaks is not allowed.

The Ministry emphasized that all schools must follow the approved calendar and ensure that curriculum delivery and assessments are completed by the last week of each term. Full attendance is mandatory until the final day, except for students taking international exams with separate schedules.

Private schools using the national curriculum must also adhere to the centralized exam calendar for public schools. The Ministry confirmed that this unified calendar is a vital step toward building a more connected, supportive, and community-oriented education system in the UAE.

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