At a glance
- Government schools started
- Sunday 6 September 2026
- Students in government schools
- 876,117 in 1,298 schools
- Example private start
- 23 August 2026 (British School Muscat)
- Eid al-Fitr (expected)
- 9 to 11 March 2027
- Eid al-Adha (expected)
- 16 to 18 May 2027
Government schools in 2026-27
Government schools opened for students on Sunday 6 September 2026. Oman Daily reported 876,117 students across 1,298 government schools, and an expected 1,366 private schools this year, up about 8% on last year. The ministry has also changed shape: the former Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation are now a single Ministry of Education.
The ministry publishes semester exam timetables during the year. As a guide to the pattern, in 2024-25 it set first-semester exams for Grades 5 to 11 and the General Education Diploma from 15 January, and second-semester and second-round exams from 11 June to 10 July. Check the ministry's announcements for the 2026-27 dates before planning travel.
Example: British School Muscat, 2026-27
A worked example of a private international school's year. Dates marked as holidays may move with official announcements.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First day of autumn term | Sunday 23 August 2026 |
| October half-term | Sunday 18 to Thursday 22 October 2026 |
| National Day holiday (expected) | Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026 |
| Last day of autumn term | Thursday 17 December 2026 |
| First day of spring term | Sunday 3 January 2027 |
| Sultan's Accession Day holiday (expected) | Monday 11 January 2027 |
| February half-term | Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr (expected) | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March 2027 |
| Last day of spring term | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| First day of summer term | Sunday 11 April 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha (expected) | Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 May 2027 |
| Last day of the year | Wednesday 30 June 2027 |
Source: British School Muscat term dates, checked October 2026. The school notes Ramadan is expected to begin on 8 February 2027.
Public and religious holidays to plan around
Oman announces public holidays during the year; Islamic dates depend on moon sighting.
| Occasion | Expected date |
|---|---|
| National Day holiday | Around 25 and 26 November 2026 |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Around 6 January 2027 |
| Sultan's Accession Day | 11 January 2027 |
| Ramadan begins | Around 8 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Around 9 to 11 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha | Around 16 to 18 May 2027 |
| Islamic New Year | Around 6 June 2027 |
Source: British School Muscat holiday estimates; final dates follow government announcements.
How private schools differ
Private schools in Oman that follow the government calendar system work to the ministry's dates and exam periods. International schools teaching British, American, IB or Indian curricula publish their own calendars. Some, like British School Muscat, start in late August with half-terms in October and February, and all run their external exams to the boards' timetables: IGCSE and A Level from late April into June, IB Diploma from late April to 18 May, and AP from 3 to 14 May 2027.
For families moving between systems, the difference matters: a child in a government school can still be in first-semester exams in late January while a British-school friend is already back from the winter break.
Planning lessons around the year
Online lessons suit Oman's spread-out geography, since students outside Muscat get the same access without travel. Families commonly use the winter break and February half-term for catch-up, and move lessons to after iftar during Ramadan. LiveTutor tutors teach the curricula they list, including British, IB and American courses, and Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects; ask when you book.
Common questions
When did school start in Oman in 2026?
Government schools started on Sunday 6 September 2026. Some international schools started earlier; British School Muscat, for example, started on 23 August.
When is National Day holiday in Oman 2026?
It is expected around Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026, subject to the government's announcement.
When are government school exams in Oman?
The ministry publishes the 2026-27 timetables during the year. In 2024-25 first-semester exams started on 15 January and second-semester exams on 11 June, which gives a guide to the pattern.
Do private schools in Oman follow the ministry calendar?
Those on the government calendar system do. International schools publish their own term dates, so check your school's calendar.
How much do online lessons cost in Oman?
Each LiveTutor lesson is one to one, online and 60 minutes, at $15, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.