UAE’s official academic calendar 2025 – 2026
If you live in the UAE and have school-going kids, you’ll want to mark the key academic year dates in your calendar as soon as possible to plan family vacations and other activities. Our guide to the UAE school academic calendar reveals all the must-know dates for public and private institutes. Get ahead of your planning game for the year 2025 – 2026 with the UAE academic calendar.
UAE SCHOOL ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has released the official UAE academic calendar 2025-26, encompassing all public and private educational institutions nationwide.
This comprehensive academic calendar 2025-26 UAE provides an overview of term dates, holidays and important events across public and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum and private schools with international curricula.
Stay informed with MyBayut’s handy guide, which outlines the school academic calendar 2025-26 UAE term start and end dates, examination periods and holidays throughout the year.
UAE ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2025-26: KEY DATES
The Ministry of Education has announced the school term dates for 2025 -26 for all public and private schools in the UAE. We encourage parents and educators to note these important dates to ensure smooth academic transitions throughout the upcoming school year.
Academic Year Start and End
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of key dates affecting educational institutions:
- School year start: August 25, 2025
- School year end: July 3, 2026 (July 2 in Sharjah)
Term Dates
Looking for the term academic calendar for British schools in Dubai, IB and top American schools in Dubai?
TERM | START DATE | END DATE |
|---|---|---|
TERM First | START DATE August 25, 2026 | END DATE December 5, 2025 |
TERM Second | START DATE January 5, 2026 | END DATE March 15, 2026 |
TERM Third | START DATE March 30, 2026 | END DATE July 3, 2026 |
Private schools can schedule two mid-term breaks — one in October and another in February — with each break lasting up to five consecutive days. These breaks must be taken within the specified months and cannot be extended or rescheduled to align with the national UAE academic calendar 2025-26.
- The first term will conclude with an extended four-week winter break, increased from the previous three-week duration.
- For the academic calendar 2025-26 UAE, the winter holidays will run from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, with students returning to classrooms on 5 January 2026.
Note: Private schools in Dubai are required to complete a minimum of 182 teaching days per academic year, as per KHDA’s requirements.
Schools Starting in April
It’s crucial to mark important dates in the MOE academic calendar 2025-26 to effectively plan your schedule and make the most of the academic year for Indian, Pakistani and Japanese curriculum schools.
While schools must generally follow the unified start and end dates, they have the flexibility to adjust specific start dates to accommodate international board examinations such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
Indian curriculum schools traditionally begin their academic year in April and conclude in March. These institutions may modify holiday dates, provided they remain within the designated semester framework.
It’s always advisable to consult the academic calendar on the official school website for any updates or changes regarding term dates and holidays.
BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS IN THE UAE ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2025-26
A well-deserved break is essential for students, parents, and educators to recharge and rejuvenate. The UAE academic calendar for 2025-26 allocates specific dates for breaks and holidays, ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Here are the breaks and holidays to look forward to:
- Winter break: December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026
- Spring break: March 16 to March 29, 2026 (Sharjah private schools resume earlier on March 23)
Mid-Term Breaks for MOE Curriculum Schools
- Term 1: October 13-19, 2025, schools resume on October 20, 2025
- Term 2: February 11-15, 2026, schools resume on February 16, 2026
- Term 3: May 25-31, 2026, schools resume on June 1 (aligned with Eid Al Adha holidays)
Academic Calendar for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s (MoHESR) revised framework for all public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) introduces notable changes to end-of-term holidays, aiming to create a more adaptable and uniform academic calendar across UAE HEIs.
- The university academic year commences on August 25, 2025, and concludes on July 3, 2026.
This unified schedule is compulsory for all UAE-based higher education institutions, excluding international universities that follow their home countries’ calendars.
- The winter break spans from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with studies resuming on January 5.
- Spring break runs from March 16 to 29, 2026, with classes resuming on March 30.
Institutions may adjust these breaks by up to one week earlier or later, provided the duration remains unchanged.
FAQs about the Academic Calendar 2025-2026
HOW MANY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ARE THERE IN THE UAE?
The UAE has the most international schools in the Gulf region due to its expat population. There are many top British schools in Dubai. Similarly, you can find popular British and IB schools in Abu Dhabi.
WHEN DOES THE ACADEMIC YEAR END IN THE UAE?
For most American, British and IB international schools, the academic year ends in June. Classes resume in the last week of August, which marks the start of the new academic year.
On the other hand, Indian, Japanese and Pakistani schools end the academic year in March, and the new school year starts in April.
HAS THE SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2025/26 BEEN RELEASED?
The UAE Cabinet has announced the unified public and private school calendars for the upcoming academic year. As stated earlier, the academic year must have at least 182 school days.
WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN THE UAE?
As per the MoE instructions, summer break for all UAE private schools should not be more than 8.2 weeks. Students enjoy the summer holidays during July and August before returning to school in the last week of August.
The exact dates for all UAE public holidays (like New Year, Eid, the First day of the Hijri Islamic Calendar and the UAE National Day) will be communicated by schools after the final confirmation and announcement by the UAE government.
That completes our guide to the UAE academic calendar 2025/2026. You can make the most of the academic year by proactively marking important milestones, planning breaks and holidays, and effectively managing your schedule.
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