At a glance
- First day
- 31 August 2026
- Winter break
- 14 Dec 2026, back 4 Jan 2027
- Spring break
- 5 April 2027, back 12 April 2027
- Last day
- 2 July 2027
- Minimum school days
- 185 (September-start schools)
UAE calendar for schools starting in September, 2026-27
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of the academic year | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| First mid-term break (MOE-curriculum private schools) | Monday 12 October 2026 |
| Classes resume after the mid-term break | Monday 19 October 2026 |
| Winter break starts (all schools) | Monday 14 December 2026 |
| Classes resume after winter break | Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Spring break starts (all schools) | Monday 5 April 2027 |
| Classes resume after spring break | Monday 12 April 2027 |
| End of the academic year | Friday 2 July 2027 |
Source: KHDA academic calendar for Dubai's private schools, 2026-2027, which states the calendar is issued by the UAE government and binding on private schools. Minimum 185 school days. Checked October 2026.
Calendar for schools starting in April (2026-27 year)
Most Indian-curriculum (CBSE) schools in the UAE run an April to March year.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of the academic year | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| Summer break starts | Monday 6 July 2026 |
| Classes resume after summer | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| Winter break starts | Monday 14 December 2026 |
| Classes resume after winter break | Monday 4 January 2027 |
| End of the academic year | Wednesday 31 March 2027 |
Source: KHDA. The year ends in March 2027 provided the school has met the minimum of 182 school days.
Holidays and big dates to plan around
Public holiday dates are announced by the UAE government during the year, and Islamic dates depend on moon sighting. The Eid and Ramadan dates below are estimates based on the Hijri calendar published by neighbouring Bahrain's ministry.
| Occasion | Expected timing | What it means for school |
|---|---|---|
| Commemoration Day and National Day | Early December 2026 | Public holidays before the winter break |
| Ramadan 1448 | About 8 February to 8 March 2027 | Shorter school days during Ramadan are usual; check your school's timings |
| Eid al-Fitr | About 9 March 2027 | Public holiday days fall in term time, so expect a short break |
| Eid al-Adha | About 16 May 2027 | Public holiday days fall in the summer term |
| IGCSE, A Level, IB and AP exams | Late April to June 2027 | External exams run through the final term |
What is different for private schools
Since the unified calendar was introduced, private schools in Dubai must follow the government's dates for the start and end of the year and for the winter, spring and summer breaks. What still varies is the detail: individual schools set their own half-term or long-weekend days, staff training days, parent conferences and internal exam weeks.
KHDA says families should check each school's own calendar through the school's profile. Schools in Abu Dhabi (regulated by ADEK) and Sharjah (SPEA) work to the same national framework, but always confirm term dates with the school before booking travel.
Public schools follow the Ministry of Education's calendar and its end-of-term exam schedule for each cycle. Our page on UAE MOE end-of-term exams covers those weeks.
Exam weeks to plan around
For MOE-curriculum students, end-of-term assessments come before the winter break, before the spring break and at the end of the year; the exact days are issued by the Ministry each term. For British-curriculum students, mocks usually sit in the weeks just before or after winter break, and the Cambridge and Edexcel summer series runs from late April into June 2027. IB Diploma exams and AP exams both start in late April or early May 2027.
The spring break of 5 to 12 April 2027 is a single week, so it is the last real revision block before external exams begin.
Using the calendar to plan tutoring
Families often use the breaks to catch up rather than to stop. One or two online lessons a week during the winter break keep momentum before mocks, and the spring week can be used for timed past papers with a tutor. Online lessons also continue when a family travels, since all that is needed is a laptop and a stable connection.
Common questions
When does the 2026-27 school year start in the UAE?
Monday 31 August 2026 for schools that start in September. Schools on an April to March year started on 6 April 2026 and returned from summer on 31 August.
When is the winter break in UAE schools 2026?
It starts on Monday 14 December 2026, and classes resume on Monday 4 January 2027, for all schools.
When is spring break 2027 in the UAE?
One week: from Monday 5 April 2027, with classes resuming on Monday 12 April.
Do private schools in the UAE follow the same calendar?
Yes for the main dates. Private schools must follow the government's start and end dates and the winter, spring and summer breaks, but they can set their own half-terms, training days and internal exam weeks.
Can my child keep having lessons during the holidays?
Yes. LiveTutor lessons are online, one to one and 60 minutes, at $15 each on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons. You can cancel or reschedule any lesson at least 48 hours ahead at no cost, which helps around travel.
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.