The UAE operates a unified school calendar for both public and private schools. The 2025-2026 academic year ended on 3 July 2026. The 2026-2027 academic year began on Monday 31 August 2026 for September-start schools and runs until 2 July 2027. Below is the complete calendar with all term dates, breaks, holidays, and key events.
KEY DATES AT A GLANCE
- Current year ends: Friday 3 July 2026
- 2026-2027 started: Monday 31 August 2026
- Upcoming break: Eid Al Adha — 25–31 May 2026
- Friday early finish: All Dubai private schools end by 11:30 AM on Fridays
- Calendar type: Unified (public + private schools)
2025–2026 Academic Year — Complete Calendar
This is the current academic year. The unified calendar applies to all schools in the UAE, regardless of curriculum.
| Period | Dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Mon 25 Aug – Sun 7 Dec 2025 | ~15 weeks |
| Mid-term Break 1 | Mon 13 – Sun 19 Oct 2025 | 1 week |
| Winter Break | Mon 8 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026 | 4 weeks |
| Term 2 | Mon 5 Jan – Sun 15 Mar 2026 | ~10 weeks |
| Mid-term Break 2 | Wed 11 – Sun 15 Feb 2026 | 5 days |
| Spring Break / Eid al-Fitr | Mon 16 – Sun 29 Mar 2026 | 2 weeks |
| Term 3 | Mon 30 Mar – Fri 3 Jul 2026 | ~14 weeks |
| Mid-term Break 3 / Eid Al Adha | Mon 25 – Sun 31 May 2026 | 1 week |
| Last Day of School | Friday 3 July 2026 | — |
2026–2027 Academic Year — Confirmed Dates
Correction (13 September 2026): this article originally gave the 2026-2027 academic year as beginning 26 August 2026 and ending 27 June 2027, and the April-start date as 1 April 2026. The correct dates are 31 August 2026 to 2 July 2027, with April-start schools beginning 6 April 2026, per the Ministry of Education calendar announced on 23 February 2026. The term-break dates in the table have been corrected from the same announcement.
The following dates are the Ministry of Education calendar for 2026-2027, announced on 23 February 2026 as part of a three-year calendar covering 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29. They cover September-start schools (the majority in Dubai).
| Milestone | Date (MoE calendar, announced 23 February 2026) |
|---|---|
| April-start schools began | Mon 6 April 2026 (most schools; online start) |
| September-start schools began | Mon 31 August 2026 |
| Term 1 mid-term break | Mon 12 – Sun 18 October 2026 |
| Winter break | Mon 14 December 2026 – Sun 3 January 2027 |
| Spring break | Mon 5 – Sun 11 April 2027 |
| Ramadan begins (approx.) | ~8 February 2027 |
| September-start schools end | Fri 2 July 2027 |
Dates are the Ministry of Education calendar published 23 February 2026. Private schools not following the MoE curriculum may, with their local authority’s approval, split the mid-term break between October and February, and Sharjah applies its own arrangements — confirm with your school.
GetYourTutors will update this page with the confirmed 2026-2027 calendar as soon as it is officially published by the Ministry of Education. Bookmark this page and check back.
Ramadan & Eid Timing
Ramadan 2026 (Current Year)
Ramadan 2026 began approximately 19 February 2026, with Eid al-Fitr falling around 20 March 2026. During Ramadan, school days are reduced to approximately 5 hours (down from the usual 7), and all Dubai private schools end by 11:30 AM on Fridays (this rule continues year-round — see below).
The spring break (16-29 March) overlapped with the tail end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, giving students a full 2-week break covering the most intensive fasting period and the celebration.
Ramadan 2027 (Next Year)
Ramadan shifts approximately 10 days earlier each year. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027. Schools should publish adjusted timings closer to the date.
For study strategies during Ramadan, see our guide: Studying During Ramadan — Practical Tips for UAE Students.
Friday Early Finish Rule
From January 2026, KHDA introduced a rule that all Dubai private schools must finish no later than 11:30 AM on Fridays. This applies year-round, not just during Ramadan. The rule was introduced to align with the UAE's 4.5-day work week and give families more time together on Fridays.
This affects after-school activities, tutoring schedules, and weekend planning. If you're booking a tutor through GetYourTutors, Friday afternoons are now available for additional study sessions.
Exam Season Within the Calendar
Major external exams were scheduled for Term 3 (March–July) of the 2025–2026 year. The May/June 2026 sessions below did not take place: Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, OxfordAQA and the IB cancelled them in the UAE in April 2026 and grades were awarded through each board's contingency route. The windows are retained as a record of the published schedule:
| Exam | Period | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE | 23 Apr – 9 Jun 2026 | Full timetable → |
| IB Diploma (May) | 24 Apr – 20 May 2026 | Full timetable → |
| AP Exams | 4 – 15 May 2026 | Full timetable → |
| Cambridge A-Level | 23 Apr – 23 Jun 2026 | Full timetable → |
| Eid Al Adha break | 25 – 31 May 2026 | During exam season |
Important: The Eid Al Adha break (25-31 May) falls in the middle of exam season. Students taking Sciences will have multiple choice papers in the first week of June immediately after returning from the break. Plan revision accordingly.
What Should Parents Plan For?
- Book tutoring before exam season. Term 3 starts 30 March — exams begin just 3.5 weeks later on 23 April. If your child needs support, arrange a tutor now rather than waiting until exam stress peaks.
- Use the Eid Al Adha break wisely. The 25-31 May break is a crucial revision window for students with Science multiple choice papers in early June. Create a structured revision plan for the break rather than treating it as pure holiday.
- Plan summer learning. The gap between the last day of school (3 July) and the new academic year (31 August) was just over 8 weeks — 59 days. Students who fall behind during the year can use this period for catch-up tutoring. GetYourTutors' full-time professional tutors are available throughout the summer.
- Check your child's exam timetable. Download the personalised timetable from your school. Use our free Learning Gaps Assessment to identify which subjects need the most revision focus.
SOURCES
- KHDA — Academic Calendar for Dubai Private Schools
- UAE Ministry of Education — Academic Calendar 2026-2028, announced 23 February 2026
- UAE Government Portal — School Education Academic Year
Last verified: September 2026. Dates are the Ministry of Education calendar announced on 23 February 2026. The Ministry allows private schools not following the MoE curriculum, with their local authority's approval, to vary term breaks — always confirm with your school.