The 2026-27 school year in the UAE runs from Monday 31 August 2026 to Friday 2 July 2027. It has a one-week October mid-term break (12 to 18 October), a three-week winter break (14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) and a one-week spring break (5 to 11 April 2027). These are the dates in the Ministry of Education’s unified calendar for public and private schools, which also fixes the next two school years.
This guide gives the full term-by-term calendar and the public holidays that fall during term. It explains which schools follow the calendar and which do not, including Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools and Sharjah private schools. It also covers the October or February half-term choice some private schools can make. The 2027-28 and 2028-29 dates are included at the end for parents planning further ahead. A color-coded month-by-month calendar shows every school day, break and holiday at a glance.
Key Takeaways
- Students start on Monday 31 August 2026 and finish on Friday 2 July 2027.
- The October mid-term break is Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026, giving nine days off with the weekends. Classes resume on Monday 19 October.
- Winter break is three weeks, from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. That is one week shorter than the four-week break in 2025-26.
- Spring break is 5 to 11 April 2027, with school resuming on 12 April.
- KHDA reminded all Dubai private schools in September 2026 that they must follow the unified calendar.
- Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools are excluded. They run their own April-to-March year.
- Public holidays add days off in term time: National Day (2 to 3 December 2026) and Eid Al Fitr (expected 9 to 11 March 2027).
UAE School Calendar 2026-27 at a Glance
The 2026-27 school year has three terms, from 31 August 2026 to 2 July 2027, separated by a three-week winter break and a one-week spring break. The first term also contains a one-week mid-term break in October. Every date below comes from the Ministry of Education (MOE) announcement of 23 February 2026.
| Period | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 starts | Monday 31 August 2026 | First day for students |
| October mid-term break | Monday 12 to Sunday 18 October 2026 | Five school days off. Back on Monday 19 October. |
| National Day holiday (Eid Al Etihad) | Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026 | Public holiday. The Cabinet can move it to make a long weekend. |
| Term 1 ends | Friday 11 December 2026 | Last school day before winter break |
| Winter break | Monday 14 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 | Three weeks |
| Term 2 starts | Monday 4 January 2027 | Ramadan expected to begin around 8 February 2027 |
| Eid Al Fitr (expected) | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March 2027 | To Friday 12 March if Ramadan lasts 30 days. Confirmed by moon sighting. |
| Term 2 ends | Friday 2 April 2027 | Last school day before spring break |
| Spring break | Monday 5 to Sunday 11 April 2027 | One week |
| Term 3 starts | Monday 12 April 2027 | |
| Eid Al Adha (expected) | Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 May 2027 | Arafah Day falls on Saturday 15 May. Confirmed by moon sighting. |
| Last day of the school year | Friday 2 July 2027 | Summer break follows |
The holiday dates come from Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on official holidays, which fixes Eid Al Etihad on 2 and 3 December and ties the Eids to the Hijri calendar. The Islamic holiday dates are expected dates until the moon sighting. Our UAE public holidays 2027 planner tracks each confirmation.
Which Schools Follow the Unified Calendar
The calendar binds all public schools and private schools across the UAE, with two exceptions: schools teaching the Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi curriculum, and some flexibility for Sharjah private schools. The MOE also requires schools to hold final assessments or finish the curriculum in the last week of each term, so that students attend until the last school day.
| School type | Follows the MOE calendar? | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Public (government) schools, all emirates | Yes | Nothing |
| Private schools on the MOE curriculum | Yes | Must take the October mid-term break as set |
| Dubai private schools (British, American, IB, French and others), regulated by KHDA | Yes | Local regulators may let them split the five mid-term days between October and February |
| Abu Dhabi private schools, regulated by ADEK | Yes | Same split option, if ADEK allows it for the school |
| Sharjah private schools, regulated by SPEA | Largely | Excluded from the split option and follow Sharjah’s own framework |
| Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools | No | Own academic year, starting in April |
Dubai: KHDA’s reminder in September 2026
Several Dubai British-curriculum schools had originally planned an October half-term of 19 to 23 October. In early September 2026 they moved it forward a week to 12 to 16 October. Gulf News reported that KHDA reminded all private schools in Dubai to adhere to the unified academic calendar, and noted that the dates were not new but had been approved in February.
If your child’s school calendar still shows a different October week, ask the school which dates it has had approved. Our guide to enrolling in Dubai schools explains how KHDA regulates private schools more generally.
The October or February half-term option
The MOE allows local education authorities to let private schools that do not follow the MOE curriculum divide the mid-term break between October and February. The total may not exceed five school days and must fit the school’s operations. This is why some schools take, for example, three days in October and two in February. Sharjah private schools are excluded from this option.
Sharjah: the SPEA calendar
The Sharjah Private Education Authority published its own 2026-27 calendar for private schools in the emirate, other than Indian and Pakistani curriculum schools. As reported by Gulf News in August 2026, it matches the MOE start (31 August) and winter break (14 December to 3 January). Its spring break runs 5 to 8 April 2027 with classes resuming on 12 April, and the year ends a day earlier, on 1 July 2027.
Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools
The MOE states that the calendar does not apply to private schools following alternative curricula such as Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani. These schools follow an April-to-March year aligned with board exams in the home country, with their long break in the summer months. Each school publishes its own dates, so check the school’s circulars rather than the MOE calendar.
Planning Around the Calendar
The new calendar changes two planning habits for expat families. The winter break is now three weeks instead of four. The October break also falls a week earlier than many British-curriculum families were used to.
Winter travel
Winter break starts on Monday 14 December 2026, so families can fly on Friday 11 or Saturday 12 December. With return on Sunday 3 January, a three-week trip home is possible without missing school. In 2025-26 the break ran from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, so the 2026-27 break is one week shorter.
Taking children out during term
The MOE requires schools to run assessments in the final week of each term to keep attendance up. Leaving a few days before a break can therefore mean missing assessed work. Schools also record unexplained absences, which can affect a child’s attendance record. If you have to travel, agree it in writing with the school in advance.
Working parents
School breaks are not public holidays, so employees need annual leave to cover them. National Day and the two Eids are the only term-time days that are public holidays for workers too. Our National Day 2026 leave planner shows how to bridge them into longer breaks.
Ramadan school hours
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February and fall entirely within Term 2. Education regulators usually announce shortened school hours for Ramadan shortly before it begins, so the timetable for those weeks will differ from the rest of the term. Our guide to Ramadan rules for residents covers the working-hours side for parents.
Next Two School Years: 2027-28 and 2028-29
The same MOE announcement fixed the next two school years, so you can plan further ahead.
| Event | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|
| First day | 30 August 2027 | 28 August 2028 |
| October mid-term break | 11 to 17 October 2027 (back 18 October) | 16 to 22 October 2028 (back 23 October) |
| Winter break | 13 December 2027 to 2 January 2028 (back 3 January) | 11 December 2028 to 1 January 2029 (back 2 January) |
| Spring break | 27 March to 2 April 2028 (back 3 April) | 29 March to 1 April 2029 (back 2 April) |
| Last day | 30 June 2028 | 29 June 2029 |
The same exclusions are expected to apply in those years. These are the announced dates as of October 2026, and we will update this page if the MOE or a local regulator revises them.
FAQ
When does the 2026-27 school year start in the UAE?
Monday 31 August 2026 for students in public schools and private schools that follow the unified calendar. Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curriculum schools follow their own April-to-March year.
When is the October half-term break in Dubai in 2026?
Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026, with students back on Monday 19 October. With weekends that is nine days off, from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 October. KHDA reminded Dubai private schools in September 2026 to follow these dates.
How long is the winter break for UAE schools in 2026-27?
Three weeks, from Monday 14 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with school resuming on Monday 4 January. It is one week shorter than the 2025-26 winter break.
When is spring break 2027 for UAE schools?
Monday 5 to Sunday 11 April 2027, with classes resuming on Monday 12 April under the MOE calendar. Sharjah private schools were reported to break from 5 to 8 April and also resume on 12 April.
When does the 2026-27 school year end?
Friday 2 July 2027 under the MOE calendar. Sharjah private schools under SPEA were reported to finish on Thursday 1 July 2027.
Do Indian schools in the UAE follow the MOE academic calendar?
No. The MOE excludes private schools teaching the Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi curriculum. They run an April-to-March academic year and publish their own term dates.
Can a Dubai school have a February half-term instead of October?
Private schools that do not follow the MOE curriculum may split the five-day mid-term break between October and February if their local regulator allows it. The total cannot exceed five school days. Sharjah private schools are excluded from this option.
Are school holidays the same as public holidays in the UAE?
No. School breaks apply only to students and school staff. Public holidays such as National Day and the Eids are days off for the public and private sectors under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, so working parents need annual leave to cover school breaks.
Is the school calendar fixed for future years?
Yes. The MOE published dates for 2027-28 and 2028-29 at the same time. The 2027-28 year starts on 30 August 2027 and the 2028-29 year on 28 August 2028.
Official Sources
- Ministry of Education: Academic calendar for the next three years (23 February 2026)
- UAE Government portal: Public holidays
- Gulf News: KHDA says private schools must follow the Ministry of Education calendar (September 2026)
- Gulf News: Sharjah announces private school calendar for 2026-2027 (August 2026)
- The National: UAE cuts length of winter school holiday under new academic calendar (February 2026)
Information current as of October 2026. Verify with official authorities before proceeding.
This guide is for informational purposes only. School calendars can be revised by the Ministry of Education or local regulators, and individual schools may have approved variations. Always confirm dates with your child’s school before booking travel.
