Schools across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to reopen on August 31, 2026, marking the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year for most public and private schools across the country.
The new academic year will follow the UAE’s unified school calendar, which sets out the main term dates, holidays and breaks for schools following the national schedule.
However, parents and students have been advised to check with individual schools because some private institutions may follow different academic calendars depending on their emirate, curriculum and regulatory requirements.
UAE School Year to Begin August 31
According to the announced academic calendar, the 2026-27 school year will officially begin on August 31, 2026.
The first major break of the academic year will take place from October 12 to October 18, 2026. Students will return to classrooms on October 19 following the break.
The winter holiday will begin on December 14, 2026, and continue until January 3, 2027. Classes will resume on January 4, 2027.
Students will then receive a spring break from April 5 to April 11, 2027, with schools reopening on April 12.
The academic year is scheduled to conclude on July 2, 2027, for schools following the unified calendar.
Key Dates for 2026-27
The major dates for the upcoming academic year are:
- School year begins: August 31, 2026
- First-term break: October 12-18, 2026
- Classes resume: October 19, 2026
- Winter break: December 14, 2026-January 3, 2027
- Classes resume: January 4, 2027
- Spring break: April 5-11, 2027
- Classes resume: April 12, 2027
- Academic year ends: July 2, 2027
Schools following the unified calendar are required to meet the minimum number of instructional days set by the relevant authorities.
Private Schools May Follow Different Calendars
Although the unified calendar will apply to most schools, some private institutions may operate according to different schedules.
Schools offering international curricula may have academic calendars that differ from the standard UAE schedule. Parents are therefore encouraged to confirm the exact opening, closing and holiday dates directly with their children’s schools.
Sharjah also operates under its own regulatory framework for private schools, meaning certain institutions may have different requirements and schedules.
Schools following Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curricula may also have academic years that differ from the UAE’s unified calendar.
For example, some Indian-curriculum schools begin their academic year in April and generally complete their academic year in March. Such schools are required to complete at least 182 instructional days.
Sharjah Schools
Private schools in Sharjah will also generally begin the 2026-27 academic year on August 31, 2026.
However, schools following Indian and Pakistani curricula are an exception and may operate according to their respective academic calendars.
For schools following the Sharjah schedule, the academic year is expected to end on July 1, 2027.
The differences mean that families with children enrolled in different curricula should pay particular attention to their school’s official calendar before making travel or holiday plans.
Public Holidays During the Academic Year
Parents should also take expected public and religious holidays into account when planning for the new school year.
Expected holidays include Eid Al Fitr from March 8 to March 12, Eid Al Adha from May 15 to May 18, and the Islamic New Year on June 6, 2027.
However, these dates remain subject to official confirmation and may be adjusted depending on the official announcement and lunar calendar.
Public holidays can affect school schedules and may result in additional days off for students and teachers.
What Parents Need to Know
With the new school year approaching, parents are expected to prepare their children for the return to classrooms at the end of August.
Families should confirm whether their child’s school follows the UAE unified calendar or operates under a curriculum-specific schedule.
Parents should also check school-specific information regarding orientation days, transportation arrangements, uniforms, textbooks and other requirements before the academic year begins.
The August 31 reopening date will mark the start of a new academic year for thousands of students across the UAE.
While most schools will follow the unified calendar, differences among private, international and curriculum-specific institutions mean that the exact schedule can vary.
The 2026-27 academic calendar provides families with an early opportunity to plan school commitments, holidays and travel arrangements around the major breaks throughout the year.
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