Early Childhood Week Goes National — What It Means for Dubai Parents and Educators

What happened?

On 4 November 2026 the Ministry of Family set out the programme for the first national edition of Early Childhood Week. It runs from 16 to 22 November under the theme "Every Moment Matters", under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Ministry organises it with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), as part of the UAE Year of Family's national programmes.

The Ministry says 130 entities will deliver more than 300 events, and that the Week "is designed for children up to the age of eight, their families and caregivers". Previous editions were held in Abu Dhabi only. The official site says the 2025 edition drew more than 65,000 people to 300+ activations by 70+ partners across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

Three national pieces stand out:

• A Moment Together at School. The Ministry of Education will run this initiative, which brings a child together with a parent or caregiver "for a brief shared experience centred on reading, play, discovery or conversation". Families receive a take-home card to repeat the activity at home.
• The Children's Run on 20 November, organised with UNICEF for World Children's Day.
• A new family guide in Arabic and English, built around four things that strengthen family bonds: "meaningful conversations, presence, family routines and growth".

What this means for UAE families

The Week's age range, birth to eight, lines up closely with the early years of a Dubai school journey. In British-curriculum schools it covers nursery, FS1 and FS2 (the Early Years Foundation Stage) and Years 1 to 3. Our FS1 and FS2 admission guide sets out the current age cut-offs. One programme therefore reaches a toddler at home, a child about to start FS1 and a Year 3 pupil, and most families with young children will find something that fits.

On 13 November 2026 the official events page, filtered to Dubai, listed 33 activities. These are the ones most useful to families with young children, as each listing describes them:

• Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Children's Library (Al Jaddaf): a Family Story Hour and "A Story We Draw Together", from 16 to 22 November. Both are listed as free, in Arabic, for ages 0 to 8.
• Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai campus (Al Nahda): an Early Childhood Carnival with four "Together Labs", from 16 to 19 November, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. It is listed as free, walk-in, in Arabic and English, for children up to eight and their families.
• The Community Development Authority's "A Child's City… A City of the Future": a miniature city with stations on health, protection, learning, play, creativity, inclusion and sustainability. It is listed at Dubai Hills Mall on 19 November.
• The Children's Run (Fun Run & Go Blue): a 1 km family run for ages 0 to 8 on Friday 20 November. The Dubai listing is at Al Warqa'a Park; families are asked to wear blue.
• Children's City, Creek Park (Gate 1): activities from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November. The listing says standard Children's City admission applies.
• Dubai Health primary healthcare centres: awareness sessions on the early years, including follow-up of children's development. They are listed at Al Barsha (16 November), Nad Al Hamar (17), Al Mizhar (18 and 20) and Al Qusais (19).

Timing matters for working families. The college programme runs on weekday mornings from Monday to Thursday, so it suits children not yet at school and parents with daytime flexibility. The library sessions run all week, and the Friday-to-Sunday programmes fit school-age children. Several Dubai listings did not yet show a start time on 13 November. The Ministry asks families to "check attendance, booking or registration requirements with the relevant organisers", so open each listing before you plan a trip.

The Week also wants families to carry the habit on at home once it ends. The family resources page has two "100+ Family Moments" booklets, one for ages 0 to 2 and one for ages 3 to 8, a Parent Pack for parents of children aged 0 to 8, and a printable Family Pledge. On the Pledge, families choose three small promises, such as phones away at meals or a story together every week. For children in FS2 to Year 2 who are learning phonics at school, a weekly story fits well alongside home reading practice. Our guide to choosing a phonics website that matches your child's school programme covers that side.

For nursery and school staff

A Moment Together at School. The Ministry says the Ministry of Education will deliver it "in accordance with arrangements made by participating institutions". No list of participating schools or nurseries has been published, and we found no separate Ministry of Education page on it. If your setting has not heard about it, ask your leadership team or your school's Ministry contact before promising families anything. The take-home card is the part that links home and classroom.

Professional sessions in Dubai. The Higher Colleges of Technology campus in Al Nahda hosts four strands from 16 to 19 November, between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM, each listed as free:

• an Early Childhood Forum with daily professional-development sessions and a "Caregivers' Council" for families, teachers and partners;
• an exhibition of early-years practice from schools, nurseries and community partners (pre-registration required);
• EDUVATE, a competition for innovative early-years projects (pre-registration required);
• displays by the college's Early Childhood Education students.

Joining as an organiser. In September the Ministry of Family and the ECA invited organisations to register interest. The programme has now been published, and the Week starts on Monday. The site's Partner With Us page still describes a "Community Activator" route for small activations at a single location. For most settings this year, though, the realistic step is to share the free Family Moments booklets, Parent Pack and Family Pledge with families. The partner page is the place to watch for the next edition.

What should you do?

1. Open the events page and filter by emirate. Check each listing's age range, language, time and whether it needs registration.
2. Note the dates: 16 to 22 November 2026, with the Children's Run on Friday 20 November.
3. Download one resource that fits your child's age: the 0–2 or 3–8 Family Moments booklet, or the Family Pledge.
4. Ask your child's school or nursery whether it is running "A Moment Together at School", and look out for a take-home card.
5. Teachers and nursery staff: check with your leadership before the Week starts, and register for the HCT sessions that require it.

How this was made

This update was written with AI assistance. Its facts were checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Early Childhood Week site and its Dubai event listings, and against the Ministry of Family's announcements published by WAM. It was reviewed by the GetYourTutors Academic Team before publishing. GetYourTutors is not a partner of Early Childhood Week. The image at the top of this page is an illustration and does not show a real family.